Superior Semicircular Canal Dehiscence Syndrome

Superior semicircular canal dehiscence syndrome is a rare balance disorder characterized by auditory and/or vestibular symptoms. These might include dizziness and vertigo triggered by heavy lifting, straining, coughing or loud sounds that change the middle ear or intracranial pressure, fullness in the ear, autophony (an echo or reverberation in the ear when speaking, chewing or swallowing), hearing loss, nystagmus, or oscillopsia (the apparent motion of objects that are stationary). This condition is caused by an opening (dehiscence) in the bone that overlays the superior (uppermost) semicircular canal within the inner ear. While many patients with superior semicircular canal dehiscence syndrome are able to tolerate their symptoms and reduce or avoid triggering stimuli, others can benefit from surgical repair of the dehiscence.