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Effects of acute thyroxin depletion on hearing in humans
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (Z.M.), State University of New York at Buffalo, USA.
Objective:
To study the physiologic effect of acute thyroid hormone depletion on hearing and the function of outer hair cells.
Design:
Audiologic and otoacoustic emission testing of subjects undergoing total thyroidectomy before surgery and up to 6 weeks after surgery. Magnitude of thyroxin depletion monitored by serum thyroid-stimulating hormone levels.
Setting:
Hearing research laboratory at a state university.
Subjects:
Ten patients undergoing total thyroidectomy.
Main Outcome Measures:
Detection of hearing loss on audiogram and decrease or disappearance of otoacoustic emissions as a result of acute thyroxin depletion.
Results:
No significant changes in the audiogram and otoacoustic emission configurations were detected, although thyroid-stimulating hormone levels became elevated after total thyroidectomy.
Conclusion:
Although thyroid hormone is thought to play a role in the physiology of hearing in humans, no deleterious effects on hearing can be identified up to 6 weeks after thyroxin depletion.