Audiological findings in patients with ankylosing spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease. The aim of this investigation was to study the relationship between AS and hearing loss. This study compared 28 patients with AS with 23 age-matched controls. All subjects underwent ENT examination, audiological and acoustic immittance measurements, and auditory brainstem response (ABR) tests. Sensorineural hearing loss was found in 28.6 per cent of the AS patients and in 4.35 per cent of the control group. For hearing levels at 250-500 Hz and 4000-8000 Hz, there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups. Acoustic reflex was not obtained in both ears of four patients and the left ear of one patient. There was a correlation between increase of tympanic volume and limitation in neck movement, between extension of 1-3 interpeak latency and limitation in the neck movement. In conclusion, AS affects the inner ear more than the middle ear.