Enlarged vestibular aqueduct

Large vestibular aqueduct, also written enlarged vestibular aqueduct, is a structural deformity of the inner ear. Enlargement of this duct is one of the most common inner ear deformities and is commonly associated with hearing loss during childhood. The term dates to 1791, when Mondini noted it while completing a temporal bone dissection. Valvassori and Clemis later defined it as a vestibular aqueduct of at least 2.0 mm at the operculum or at least 1.0 mm at the midpoint. Some writers use the term enlarged vestibular aqueduct syndrome, but others hold that wrong, because it is a clinical finding that can occur in several syndromes. This entry records the condition as a named clinical entity and is not medical advice; diagnosis and care belong to a qualified clinician.