Bullous myringitis and sensorineural hearing loss

A prospective study was undertaken to investigate the incidence of sensorineural hearing loss in bullous myringitis. Fifteen patients with 21 ears diagnosed as bullous myringitis were seen over a 24-month period. Pure tone and speech audiometry were performed as early in the clinical course as possible; 7 ears demonstrated a sensorineural hearing loss and 7 ears a mixed loss. There were no purely conductive hearing losses. Recovery of hearing was complete in 8 of 14 ears. The findings of this study suggest that sensorineural hearing loss is common in bullous myringitis. The literature regarding bullous myringitis is briefly reviewed and the implications of this study are discussed.