Enlarged Vestibular Aqueduct
A widened inner ear canal linked to childhood hearing loss
Overview
Enlarged vestibular aqueduct is one of the most common inner ear malformations found on imaging in children with sensorineural hearing loss. The vestibular aqueduct is a narrow bony canal running from the inner ear toward the inside of the skull; when it is widened, hearing loss tends to fluctuate and progress, often in steps after minor head bumps. It is frequently associated with variants in the SLC26A4 gene and with Pendred syndrome. It is diagnosed by CT or MRI. Children are often advised by their care teams to avoid head trauma, and hearing aids or cochlear implants are used as needed.
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