Sensori-Neural Hearing Loss in Alcoholic Cirrhosis

Abstract

Pure-tone audiological examination was performed in 22 neomycin-treated and untreated stable alcoholic cirrhotic patients, 10 of whom had previously undergone porta-caval shunt surgery. Severe sensori-neural hearing losses were found in the shunted group only, regardless of whether or not they had previously received neomycin. Normal audiograms were seen only among non-shunted cirrhotics. Air conduction hearing thresholds for frequencies above 3 kHz were significantly higher (poorer hearing) in the shunted compared to the non-shunted group. Thresholds were also significantly higher in shunted patients who had not received neomycin when compared to non-shunted neomycin untreated cirrhotics. These data indicate that factors other than neomycin may be contributing to the hearing loss encountered in alcoholic cirrhotics.

Auditory assessment of alcoholics in abstinence

“…These studies, however, did not control for variables such as age and exposure to other toxic substances, as was done in the current study. 1 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22…”

Avaliação auditiva em alcoolistas abstêmios

“…These studies, however, did not control for variables such as age and exposure to other toxic substances, as was done in the current study. 1,3,[5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22] A comparison of TEOAE responses between groups revealed a statistically significant difference at 2kHz in the left ear in subjects exposed to noise; the TEOAE signal-to-noise ratio was lower in alcoholic subjects (Table 5). There are, however, no data in the current study to justify this finding.…”

“…Alcoholism-related sensorineural hearing loss has been documented in many papers; 1,3,[5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22] the methods, however, raise concerns about whether variables such as age, duration of alcohol abuse, and past and present noise exposure might also have contributed to the observed hearing loss.…”

Hearing Levels in a Normal Veteran Population

“…We have previously demonstrated the existence of a sensori-neural hear ing impairment in alcoholic cirrhotic patients [1], Neither ototoxic drugs (antibiotics, salicylates, or diuretics), occupational noise exposure, electro lyte disturbances, or aging could account for the hearing losses observed. Alcohol induced ototoxicity or subclinical porta-systemic (hepatic) encepha lopathy were postulated to be possible factors in the pathogenesis of this auditory impairment.…”