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Hearing loss in rheumatoid arthritis
Christine S Halligan1, Christopher D Bauch, Robert H Brey
1Division of Rheumatology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
The Laryngoscope
|November 1, 2006
Summary
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) did not show objective hearing loss compared to controls. However, RA patients reported more subjective hearing disturbances, possibly linked to overall disease impact.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Audiology
- Otolaryngology
Background:
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease.
- Hearing impairment is a potential extra-articular manifestation of RA.
- Subclinical hearing loss in RA patients requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare subclinical hearing loss in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients versus non-RA controls.
- To assess objective audiometric measures and subjective hearing perception in RA.
Main Methods:
- A case-control cross-sectional study involving 29 RA patients (disease duration > 5 years) and 30 matched controls.
- Comprehensive audiometric assessments including pure-tone audiometry, acoustic reflex testing, speech reception threshold, tympanometry, and otoacoustic emissions.
- Disease severity and functional status were evaluated using Health Assessment Questionnaires (HAQ), hearing handicap, and dizziness assessments.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in objective audiometric measurements (e.g., hearing loss prevalence, acoustic reflex thresholds, speech reception thresholds) between RA patients and controls.
- RA patients reported higher rates of hearing handicap (28% vs. 7%) and dizziness (14% vs. 3%) compared to controls.
- Subjective hearing disturbances were more prevalent in RA patients, despite similar objective hearing test results.
Conclusions:
- Objective audiometric evaluations did not reveal a higher likelihood of subclinical hearing loss in RA patients compared to controls.
- Subjective reports of hearing disturbances in RA patients may be associated with broader disease-related functional impairments.
- Further research is needed to understand the relationship between RA and subjective hearing complaints.
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