The Effect of Rheumatoid Arthritis on Middle and Inner Ear Functions

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Rheumatology
• Otolaryngology

Background:

• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease.
• RA can affect various organs, but its impact on auditory function is not fully understood.
• Understanding auditory system involvement in RA is crucial for comprehensive patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate middle and inner ear functions in RA patients.
• To assess the efferent auditory system in individuals with RA.
• To determine the audiological profile associated with rheumatoid arthritis.

Main Methods:

• The study included 35 RA patients and 40 healthy controls.
• Audiological assessments included pure-tone and high-frequency audiometry, multifrequency tympanometry, transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs), and contralateral suppression tests.
• These methods evaluate hearing sensitivity, middle ear function, cochlear function, and efferent auditory pathways.

Main Results:

• RA patients showed significantly higher pure-tone hearing thresholds across most tested frequencies compared to controls.
• Resonance frequency values were significantly lower in RA patients, indicating altered middle ear characteristics.
• Contralateral suppression, a measure of efferent auditory function, was impaired in RA patients at specific frequencies, suggesting dysfunction in the efferent auditory system.

Conclusions:

• The study demonstrates significant hearing dysfunction in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
• Audiological evaluation should be a routine part of RA management.
• Patients diagnosed with RA should be informed about the potential for audiological involvement and hearing loss.