Comparing the Frequency of Sensorineural Hearing loss and Neurological Disorders, Speech Perception in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis and Healthy People

Document Type : Original Article(s)

Authors

1 Professor, Department of Otolarhngology, Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

2 Associate Professor, Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

3 Medical Student, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract

Background: Multipe sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinative disease of central nervous system which because of high prevalence and high morbidity is in the focus of scientists’ attention. Hearing loss in 6-10% of patients with MS is seen. Also, impaired speech reception threshold is 40-50% in MS patients. The aim of this study was comparing the prevalence of sensorinural hearing loss and impaired speech reception threshold in MS and control groups.Methods: In a case-control cross-sectional study, 112 patients with MS and 112 healthy people in control group were assessed in Isfahan. Demographic findings, presenting symptoms and number of lesion in MRI were obtained.Finding: From 112 patients with MS, 75% were women. The age was 28.02 ± 6.6 years in MS group and 25.22 ± 3.8 years in control group. In this study, sensorineural hearing loss in patients with MS was 40.2% compared to 6.3% in controls (P < 0.001). Also, sensorineural hearing loss prevalence in women (40.5%) was more than men (39.3%) in MS group. There prevalence of mild and profound impaired speech reception threshold was 33.9% and 1.8% respectively; while there was moderate impaired speech reception threshold only in 0.9% of our control group. Speech reception threshold of all women in control group was normal and only one man (3.5%) had impaired speech reception threshold in control group (P = 0.33).Discussion: In patients with MS, the prevalence of sensorineural hearing loss and impaired speech reception threshold were like recent studies. Higher age may be a potential source of sensorineural hearing loss in MS group. Women sexuality may be a potential source of impaired speech reception threshold.

Keywords


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