Sensorineural hearing loss has been reported in various autoimmune diseases. The relationship between Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) and the auditory system has not been previously evaluated. In this study, we investigated the effect of euthyroid HT on the hearing ability of adult patients. The study included 30 patients with newly diagnosed euthyroid HT and 30 age- and gender-matched healthy controls. All subjects had a normal otoscopic examination and tympanometry, and they were negative for rheumatoid factor, antinuclear, anti-smooth muscle, antimitochondrial, antineutrophilcytoplasmic, and antigliadin antibodies. Pure tone audiometry exams at 250, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000, 6000, and 8000 Hertz (Hz) were performed in both groups. Thyroid peroxidase antibody and thyroglobulin antibody (anti-Tg) levels were higher in HT group while TSH, free T4, free T3, plasma electrolytes, glucose, lipid profile, vitamin B12, and blood pressure measurements were similar between the two groups. Higher audiometric thresholds and a higher prevalence of hearing loss at 250, 500, and 6000 Hz were detected in the HT patients than in the healthy controls (P < 0.05). Hearing levels at 250 and 500 Hz correlated positively with anti-Tg levels (ρ = 0.650, P = 0.002; ρ = 0.719, P < 0.001, respectively), and this association remained significant in linear regression analysis. Anti-Tg-positive HT patients had higher hearing thresholds at 250 and 500 Hz than anti-Tg-negative HT patients. Hearing thresholds were similar between anti-Tg-negative HT patients and the control subjects. This study demonstrated that hearing functions are impaired in HT patients. Thyroid autoimmunity seems to have an important impact on a decreased hearing ability, particularly at lower frequencies, in this population of patients.

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Abstract Background Chronic hypoxia may lead to auditory dysfunction in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and this dysfunction may worsen OSA, creating a vicious circle. The aim of this study was to investigate tinnitus and hearing loss in OSA patients. Methods A total of 147 patients were included in the study. After polysomnography (PSG), the patients with an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) ≥ 5 were included in OSA group, and the ones with an AHI

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Aim: The evaluation of the effects of age at cochlear implantation on balance in children. Research design: Cross-sectional study. Study sample: Twenty children who received their cochlear implants (CI) before the chronologic age of 48 months (Early CI Group), and 20 children who received their CI at 48 months chronologic age or later (Late CI Group). Intervention: All children underwent Tandem Romberg (TR) test, Single-Leg stance (SLS) test, Pediatric Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction for Balance (P-CTSIB), Pediatric Balance scale (PBS) and Timed Up and Go (TUG) test. Data collection and analysis: The scores of TR, SLS and P-CTSIB and TUG tests and PBS were recorded. Mann Whitney U test and Independent-samples t-test were used to compare data between groups. Results: TR (eyes opened-EO), SLS (EO), PBS, and TUG scores and incidence in dizziness symptoms did not show significant differences between the groups ( p > 0.05). Duration of TR and SLS tests (eyes closed-EC), P-CTSIB-positions 5, and 6 were significantly longer in the Early CI Group than the Late implanted group( p < 0.05). Conclusion: Although the age of cochlear implantation did not affect functional balance for children, it has been found to cause impaired balance performance in difficult static conditions and increased frequency of dizziness.