Comparison betweell auditory findings in early and late rheumatoid arthritis

ABSTRACT

The present study was undertaken in an attempt to clarify a debate regarding the nature and extent of hearing impairment in rheumatoid arthritis patients. The study group included forty subjects suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. Ten normal adult subjects acted as controls. The study group was subdivided according to duration of disease into early and late cases. The results showed that rheumatoid arthritis could result in sensorineural hearing loss. Prolonged duration of rheumatoid arthritis affected outer hair cell function; which was reflected on transient evoked otoacoustic emissions. Also, the prevalence of distortion product otoacoustic emissions at lower frequencies was less than that at higher frequencies