Ms. Ears Questions and Answers

Questions about Hearing Disorders from real people and answered by real audiologists

• What is Vestibular Aqueduct Syndrome?
• Where can I find information on Menieres disease?
• I have Waardenburg II. How common is it?

QUESTION: What is Vestibular Aqueduct Syndrome?

ANSWER: The best description I have found is that "the large vestibular aqueduct (LVA) syndrome is a congenital malformation that predisposes the patient ultimately to a loss of hearing and possible continuing vestibular disorder". The following sites are worth visiting:

• www.entjournal.com - Sept 1999
• www.entjournal.com - June 1999
• www.sma.org.sg - article
• www.geneclinics.org - overview
• www.educ.kent.edu - article

I also have found two journal articles that you might find very informative. They are "The Enlarged Vestibular Aqueduct Syndrome (EVA Syndrome)" Article found in the ENT Journal for their November 1993 issue.  Regrettably, they have not published this on their website.  The other article is titled, "Large Vestibular Aqueduct Syndrome: A Tutorial and Three Case Studies" found in the Journal of the American Academy of Audiology, Volume 7, Number 2, April 1996.  This article also does not seem to be published on their website. Sincerely, Ms. Ears.

QUESTION: Where can I find information on Menieres disease?

ANSWER: Menieres disease can be a challenge to live with. There is a lot of information available. I would first suggest your doctor and audiologist. You can also find some great information on the web. Take a look at the following sites:

• www.menieres.org
• www.come.to/menieres

They also have some great links, chat lines and support groups. Thank you for your question and good luck. Sincerely, Ms. Ears

QUESTION: I have Waardenburg II. How common is it?

ANSWER: Waardenburg II is not very common, though I don't have an exact percentage at this time. Singular's Dictionary of Audiology describes Waardenburg Syndrome as follows: "autosomal dominant integumentary disorder characterized by pigmentary anomalies of hair and skin (depigmentation), a broad nasal root, widely spaced medial canthai, confluent eyebrows, a white forelock in the hair, a characteristically shaped mouth, heterochromia iridium (two different colored eyes), and occasional cleft lip and palate; associated with a variable degree of sensorineural hearing loss, ranging from mild to severe, usually flat or U-shaped audiograms." Here are a few links that may be useful:

• NCBI Waardenburg Syndrome Gene Map
• Boys Town Waardenburg Fact Sheet
• Rare Conditions Resource List
• NIDCD Waardendburg Information

I hope this helps. Sincerely, Ms. Ears.

Select Another Category

Here are some other great questions that real people have asked Ms. Ears.

• Hearing Aids
• Assistive Listening Devices (Ald's)
• Cochlear Implants
• General Hearing, Impairment and Protection
• Ringing / Buzzing in the Ear (Tinnitus)
• Ear Blockages, Ear Wax and Ear Infections (Middle Ear, Swimmers Ears, etc.)
• Hearing Tests (Audiograms, Tympanograms, etc.)
• Audiologists, Dispensers, Clinics, Doctors, ENT's and Specialists
• Parents, Childcare and Teachers
• Miscellaneous Hearing Trivia

Children's Privacy Statement
No information should be submitted to or posted at hearingcenteronline.com by persons under 13 years of age. Hearingcenteronline.com does not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13 and does not sell such information. All hearingcenteronline.com contests are open only to persons over the age of 18. If we discover that we have received any information from a child under 13 in violation of this policy, we will delete that information immediately. If you believe hearingcenteronline.com has any information from or about anyone under the age of 13, please contact us by email immediately by clicking here.