A potential link between oral status and hearing impairment: preliminary observations

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Audiology
• Gerontology

Background:

• Previous research suggests a link between tooth loss and hearing impairment.
• Understanding the relationship between oral health and auditory function is crucial for comprehensive patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between various oral statuses and hearing acuity.
• To determine if specific oral conditions, such as tooth loss or lack of occlusal vertical dimension, correlate with hearing loss.

Main Methods:

• Forty-eight patients aged 64.7 years were categorized into four groups based on their dental status: complete dentures, shortened dental arches, full dental arches, and absence of occlusal stops (lacking occlusal vertical dimension).
• Audiological assessments including air and bone conduction tests were conducted in a controlled environment.
• Data were analyzed for differences in hearing acuity across groups, with adjustments for age and gender.

Main Results:

• Significant differences in air and bone conduction were observed for both low and high frequencies based on oral status, after adjusting for age and gender.
• No significant differences were found in the air-bone gap across the groups.
• The number of teeth, occluding tooth pairs, and the presence or absence of occlusal vertical dimension showed a significant correlation with the degree of hearing loss.

Conclusions:

• The findings suggest that the lack of occlusal vertical dimension, rather than just tooth loss, is significantly associated with hearing loss.
• A notable discrepancy in hearing loss was observed between complete denture wearers and individuals lacking occlusal vertical dimension, supporting this hypothesis.
• Further research is needed to elucidate the precise mechanisms and levels at which hearing loss occurs in relation to oral status.