Middle Ear Admittance and Hearing Abnormalities in Individuals with Osteoarthritis

Abstract

In osteoarthritis, the joint cartilage breaks down. Cartilage exists within the incudomalleolar and incudostapedial joints. In addition, the cartilage-covered base of the stapes footplate is bound to the cartilage-covered rim of the oval window by the annular ligament. Thus, higher prevalence of middle ear abnormalities and hearing loss can be expected in osteoarthritis due to degeneration of the cartilage and the subsequent abnormal repair response. In this study, tympanometric and audiometric data were obtained from 15 individuals diagnosed with osteoarthritis and 15 gender- and age-matched individuals without the diagnosis of arthritis. Results showed a significantly higher prevalence of middle ear abnormalities and hearing loss in ears with arthritis when compared to the control group. Interestingly, osteoarthritis and hearing loss are considered among the top chronic health concerns in older individuals although the connection between these two conditions has not been previously reported.

Audiological Findings in Osteogenesis Imperfecta

“…Only 65% of ears with conductive hearing loss and 48% of ears with mixed hearing loss were found to have abnormal tympanograms. In patients with OI it is possible that the presence of multiple otologic pathologies may confuse the interpretation of tympanometric findings; pathology contributing to high admittance may be masked by pathology resulting in reduced admittance of the tympanic membrane/middle ear system (Feldman, 1974;Rawool and Harrington, 2007). An examination of tympanogram types did indicate that the most prevalent abnormal tympanometric types observed (A S , B, and C) for the younger age group were consistent with the presence of middle ear effusion whereas for the older age group, the Type A D pattern possibly suggestive of ossicular discontinuity was the most common abnormal finding.…”

Hearing Loss in Osteogenesis Imperfecta: Characteristics and Treatment Considerations

“…It has been noted that it is possible that the presence of multiple otologic pathologies in OI may confuse the interpretation of tympanometric findings [18]. This is the case because pathology contributing to high admittance may be masked by pathology resulting in reduced admittance of the tympanic membrane/middle ear system [42, 43]. It has been reported that the most prevalent abnormal tympanometric types observed in young patients with OI are consistent with the presence of middle ear effusion (A S , B, and C) [18].…”

Flexibility within the middle ears of vertebrates

“…Evidence that the synovial interossicular joints develop increased stiffness and even fusion in osteoarthritis comes both from histological observation [124][125][126] and tympanometric and audiometric data. 127 'Moderate' to 'severe' arthritic changes in the malleo-incudal joint were found in all 36 ears taken from individuals older than 70 years, and also in a significant proportion of younger ears, although the donors showed no clinical evidence of middle-ear disease. 126 If flexibility decreases acoustic transmission, joint fusion may increase the sound intensities to which the cochlea is exposed; it is interesting in this regard to note that elderly people are at increased risk of noise-induced hearing loss.…”