Clinical Case · Trainee

An adult with a clearly asymmetric hearing loss

Vignette

A 47-year-old reports gradual hearing difficulty on the left with occasional tinnitus. Behavioural audiometry is reliable and shows near-normal hearing on the right and a sloping loss on the left. ASSR is performed as part of an objective work-up.

Audiogram

-10020406080100120500 Hz1k Hz2k Hz4k HzHearing level (dB HL)
O Right earX Left ear
Estimated thresholds by ear. O = right, X = left.

ASSR finding

ASSR estimated thresholds confirm a marked interaural asymmetry — near-normal right ear, sloping moderate loss on the left.

Diagnostic question

What does the ASSR contribute, and what should it prompt?