Diagnosis
Many of the symptoms caused by Superior Canal Dehiscence Syndrome can be similar to those of other syndromes. As such, it is important to get a proper diagnosis from a specialist in order to rule out other possible causes.
A diagnosis usually involves having your family doctor/general practitioner refer you to an ENT (ear/nose/throat) doctor that specializes in Otology or Neurotology for a hearing assessment.
Typically, an ENT specialist will perform an audiogram hearing test and a VEMP test. If a dehiscence is suspected from the results, a CT scan may be required as well.
SCDS Diagnosis Criteria
The proposed SCDS diagnosis criteria requires:
- One of the following symptoms:
- Hearing issues, such as autophony, hyperacusis, or pulsatile tinnitus
- Balance issues, such as vertigo or oscillopsia
- And one of the following medical tests indicating SCDS:
- Uncontrollable eye movement caused by sound or pressure changes.
- An audiogram test showing negative bone conduction
- A VEMP test indicating low cVEMP or high oVEMP results
- or a high-resolution CT scan showing a dehiscence