How can superior semicircular canal dehiscence change the way body sounds are heard?

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Cross-section diagram of the human ear showing the outer ear, middle ear, and inner ear, with labeled parts including the auricle, auditory canal, tympanic membrane, ossicles, cochlea, semicircular canals, and nerves. — human ear Structure of the human ear.

Superior semicircular canal dehiscence (SSCD) is a condition caused by the thinning or complete absence of the otic bone that forms the exterior of the semicircular canal.

This structural defect alters how the body perceives internal sounds. Because the bone is compromised, individuals with SSCD may experience an amplification of internal body sounds, such as those generated by their own heartbeat or the movement of their eyes. This occurs because the dehiscence creates an abnormal opening that affects the transmission of vibrations within the inner ear, allowing internal physiological sounds to be heard more intensely than they would be in a healthy ear.1