Hearing Assessment in Chronic Renal Failure Patients

Abstract

Background: The occurrence of hearing loss in the course of chronic renal failure (CRF) was investigated in numerous research studies, attempting to explain both the etiological factors and treatment possibilities. According to various authors, the percentage of occurrence of hearing loss in patients suffering from CRF differs between 20% and 80%.Objectives: Our study was conducted in this context as an attempt to find the prevalence of sensorineural hearing loss in chronic renal failure patients, to assess the frequency and type of hearing loss in patients with CRF, to find any correlation between duration of illness and SNHL and also to assess the etiological factors related to sensorineural hearing loss among chronic renal failure patients.Methodology:This is a hospital based cross-sectional study conducted at Dr S.M.C.S.I. Medical college, Karakonam, during the period November 2013 -June 2015. A sample of 89 chronic renal failure patients were assessed by pure-tone audiogram.Results: Out of the 89 chronic renal failure patients, 57 patients (64%) were detected to have sensorineural hearing loss in the order of frequency high>mid>low frequency. In this study, there is a statistically significant correlation between age of the patients and stage of the disease with SNHL. However there is no significant correlation between duration of chronic renal failure and blood parameters with SNHL.Conclusion: SNHL is common among patients with chronic renal failure. Hence a pure tone audiometry should be done routinely in all chronic renal failure patients even if they don't report hearing loss. Moreover periodic audiological assessment should be incorporated in their management to start rehabilitation as early as possible.