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Summary
Hearing disturbances are rare in multiple sclerosis (MS). This study details audiometric abnormalities, including speech intelligibility issues, to aid in diagnosing this neurological disease.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Audiology
- Otolaryngology
Context:
- Dizziness and nystagmus are common in multiple sclerosis (MS).
- Hearing disturbances are considered rare in MS, with limited case reports.
- Characterizing audiometric abnormalities is crucial for diagnosing disseminated encephalomyelitic disease.
Purpose:
- To define and characterize audiometric abnormalities in patients with suspected multiple sclerosis.
- To highlight the importance of audiological assessment in neurological practice.
Summary:
- Audiometric findings in MS can include normal or flat pure tone thresholds, better hearing of pulse tones over continuous tones, and evidence of neural/neuronal level hearing impairment.
- Impedance audiometry may show reduced or absent acoustico-facial reflexes.
- Speech audiometry reveals normal number intelligibility but poor monosyllabic word intelligibility and potential loss of dichotic speech discrimination, even with near-normal pure tone thresholds.
Impact:
- An audiological approach provides a novel diagnostic tool for otology in neurological practice.
- Identifying these specific hearing patterns can aid in differentiating MS from other neurological conditions like vascular lesions or acoustic neuromas.
- This research emphasizes the significance of audiological evaluation in the comprehensive diagnosis and management of multiple sclerosis.