Middle ear immittance in rheumatoid arthritis

Audiologic and electroacoustic immittance measurements were obtained from each ear of 23 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and 13 normal control subjects. Audiologic findings revealed 14 patients with rheumatoid arthritis with hearing loss of either conductive (three patients) or sensorineural (11 patients) type, while only two control subjects demonstrated hearing loss, both of sensorineural type. Immittance data revealed abnormal findings in 59% of the patients with rheumatoid arthritis as compared to only 4% of the control subjects. The increased incidence of sensorineural hearing loss in the sample with rheumatoid arthritis could not be readily explained. The observed prevalence of abnormal immittance findings in patients with rheumatoid arthritis suggested either increased middle ear stiffness or increased stiffness associated with decreased stability of ligamentous anchorage.