Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 24, 2026
Neuro-rehabilitation Approach for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Published on: January 25, 2016
The Effect of Citalopram Versus a Placebo on Central Auditory Processing in the Elderly
Jose Fernando Polanski1, Alexandra Dezani Soares, Liliane Desgualdo Pereira
1*Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Federal University of Sao Paulo (UNIFESP), Sao Paulo, Brazil †Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Federal University of Parana (UFPR), Curitiba, Brazil.
Objective:
Evaluate the effects of therapy with citalopram on the central auditory processing in the elderly measured by central auditory tests.
Study Design:
Prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
Setting:
Tertiary referral center.
Patients:
Thirty-nine patients older than 60 years with normal hearing thresholds or symmetrical sensorineural hearing loss up to 70 dBHL, word-recognition score equal to or better than 70%, and diagnosed with central auditory processing disorders completed the study. They underwent the mini-mental state examination, as a way to screen those with the possibility of dementia; they also underwent the Beck depression inventory, for screening individuals with depression.
Intervention:
Citalopram 20 mg/d or placebo for 6 months.
Main Outcome Measure:
The central auditory tests were applied to the selection of individuals with auditory processing disorders and repeated after 6 months' treatment. The tests were sound localization, speech in noise, dichotic digits test, pitch pattern sequence, duration pattern test, and gaps-in-noise.
Results:
Comparisons of central auditory tests pre- and posttreatment in groups showed: sound localization (p = 0.022), pitch pattern sequence humming (p = 0.110), pitch pattern sequence nomination (p = 0.355), duration pattern test humming (p = 0.801), duration pattern test nomination (p = 0.614), and gaps-in-noise (p = 0.230). Dichotic tests in right and left ears respectively: speech in noise (p = 0.949; p = 0.722), dichotic digits test (p = 0.943; p = 0.513).
Conclusion:
There was no clinical effect with the use of citalopram in central auditory processing tests of the subjects.
