Audiometric hearing status of individuals with and without multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Abstract-The purpose of the present investigation was to determine whether differences exist in audiometric hearing status between individuals with and without multiple sclerosis (MS) and between individuals with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) and individuals with secondary progressive MS (SPMS). Forty-seven subjects with MS (26 with RRMS and 21 with SPMS) and forty-nine control subjects without MS completed both a comprehensive case-history questionnaire and a conventional hearing evaluation. Statistical analyses, accounting for the potential confounding factors of age, sex, noise exposure, and use of ototoxic medications, revealed significant differences in hearing thresholds between subjects with and without MS at select audiometric test frequencies (p < 0.05). At these audiometric test frequencies, the subjects with MS had poorer hearing thresholds. Additional analyses revealed significant differences in hearing sensitivity at select audiometric frequencies between the subjects with RRMS and the subjects with SPMS, such that those with SPMS had poorer hearing thresholds. These findings have significant clinical implications for practitioners working with patients with MS.

Pure-tone auditory thresholds are not chronically elevated in multiple sclerosis.

“…While our auditory findings are in general accord with a number of case-control studies (e.g., Cohen & Rudge, 1984; Coelho et al, 2007), they contrast with those of several others (Simpkins, 1961; Dayal & Swisher, 1967; Lewis et al, 2010). With rare exception (e.g., Dayal & Swisher, 1967), one-to-one matching of the MS subjects to controls on the basis of sex and age was not performed in these studies, and most employed relatively small samples.…”

“…With rare exception (e.g., Dayal & Swisher, 1967), one-to-one matching of the MS subjects to controls on the basis of sex and age was not performed in these studies, and most employed relatively small samples. Among the larger case-control studies was that of Lewis et al (2010). As noted in the introduction, these investigators reported that the pure-tone thresholds of 47 MS patients – mostly veterans – were, on average, higher than those of 49 controls, with a greater deficit occurring in patients with secondary progressive MS (SP) than in normal controls or in patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RR).…”

“…MS-related lesions involving the eighth cranial nerve, as well as the cochlear nucleus and pontine trapezoid body of the brainstem, are known to acutely influence pure-tone thresholds, the most widely used measure of hearing acuity (e.g., Robinson & Rudge, 1977; Arnold & Bender, 1983; Furman, Durrant, & Hirsch, 1989; Drulovic, Ribaric-Jankes, Kostic, & Sternic, 1993; Fischer, Mauguiere, Ibanez, Confavreux, & Chazot, 1985; Hellmann, Steiner, & Mosberg-Galili, 2011). Consensus is lacking, however, as to the chronic influences of MS on pure-tone thresholds, with some studies reporting no such influences (Citron, Dix, Hallpike, & Hood, 1963; LeZak & Selhub, 1966) and others reporting losses mainly at low frequencies (Simpkins, 1961), high frequencies (Djupesland, Tvete, Stein, & Bachen, 1981; Musiek, Gollegly, Kibbe, & Reeves, 1989), or all frequencies, with the higher frequencies predominating (Dayal & Swisher, 1967; Noffsinger, Olsen, Carhart, Hart, & Sahgal, 1972; Luxon, 1980; Lewis et al, 2010). Unfortunately statistical comparisons of thresholds between MS patients and matched controls are seldom made and confounding of the hearing measure with age and sex is common.…”

Electrophysiological Measures of Auditory Processing in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

“…Several studies have shown that patients with MS also experience more hearing loss than age-matched control subjects. [1][2][3] Some patients with MS exhibit deficits processing auditory stimuli, including speech in a background of noise. 4,5 Even patients with MS with hearing in the normal range sometimes present with subjective complaints of hearing problems.…”

Cochlear implantation of a patient with multiple sclerosis: case report and systematic review

“…Thus, chronic SNHL seems to be common in patients with multiple sclerosis. 2,3 In addition, sudden SNHL has been described in several case reports, and is considered an important presentation of multiple sclerosis. [4][5][6][7] Herein, we describe a patient whose hearing was successfully restored by cochlear implantation even though his brainstem was affected by several multiple sclerosis lesions.…”