Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 1, 2025

Neuro-rehabilitation Approach for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Published on: January 25, 2016
Association of Alopecia Areata with Sensorineural Hearing Loss: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Kuang-Hsu Lien1,2, Tzong-Yun Ger3,4, Ching-Chi Chi3,5
1Division of Otology, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
Background:
Immune-mediated melanocyte-related pathogenesis in alopecia areata (AA) may cause sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). However, the relation between AA and SNHL has been unclear. Therefore, we aimed to investigate this association between AA and SNHL.
Methods:
We performed a systematic review and searched MEDLINE and Embase on July 25, 2022, for cross-sectional, case-control, or cohort studies that examined the association of AA with SNHL. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to evaluate their risk of bias. A random-effects model meta-analysis was performed to obtain the mean differences in frequency-specific hearing thresholds between AA patients and age-matched healthy controls and the pooled odds ratio for SNHL in relation to AA.
Results:
We included 5 case-control studies and 1 cohort study, with none of them rated with high risk of biases. The meta-analysis showed AA patients had significantly higher mean differences in pure-tone hearing thresholds at 4,000 Hz and 12,000-12,500 Hz. The meta-analysis also found increased odds for SNHL among patients with AA (OR: 3.18; 95% CI: 2.06-4.89; I2 = 0%).
Conclusions:
AA is associated with an increase of SNHL, especially at high frequencies. Otologic consultation may be indicated if AA patients present with hearing loss or tinnitus.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Hair Cells
Unrenewable Cells
Photoreceptors
The retina is composed of several layers and contains specialized cells called photoreceptors. The photoreceptors (rods and cones) change their membrane potential when stimulated by light energy. There are two types of photoreceptors—rods and cones—which differ in the shape of...
Hearing
Auditory Pathway
When viewed cross-sectionally, the cochlea reveals the scala vestibuli and scala tympani flanking...
Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure
The Cochlea

