Question: A 34 year old male undergoes uncomplicated stapedotomy for otosclerosis. Postoperatively he endorses a significant improvement in his hearing and is interested in surgery on the contralateral ear. He returns for consideration of this sooner than his scheduled follow up appointment as he noticed a decline in hearing on the operated ear. Examination is unremarkable, but his audiogram shows a widened air-bone gap. He is now 6 months from his initial procedure. What is the most likely cause of his poorer hearing? [Answer will be posted with next week's new question]

Answer to last week's question, "Vocal Range" (August 21, 2017)

Injury to the superior laryngeal nerve (external branch) that innervates the cricothyroid muscle.