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. 2010 Jul-Aug;76(4):478-84.
doi: 10.1590/S1808-86942010000400012.

Audiologic evaluation in patients with acquired hypothyroidism

[Article in English, Portuguese]
Karlos Thiago Pinheiro dos Santos  1 , Norimar Hernandes Dias, Gláucia Maria Ferreira da Silva Mazeto, Lidia Raquel de Carvalho, Renan Luis Lapate, Regina Helena Garcia Martins
Affiliations

Audiologic evaluation in patients with acquired hypothyroidism

[Article in English, Portuguese]
Karlos Thiago Pinheiro dos Santos et al. Braz J Otorhinolaryngol. 2010 Jul-Aug.

Abstract

Hearing loss in hypothyroidism has been reported by many authors but its pathophysiology is unclear.

Aims: to study the audiological evaluation of patients with acquired hypothyroidism.

Materials and methods: two groups were included: a hypothyroidism group (HG, n-30), and a control group (CG, n-30). Parameters studied: gender, time of hypothyroidism, comorbidities, cochleovestibular symptoms, biochemistry and hormonal exams (TSH, T4), tonal audiometry, TOAEs and BERA.

Results: all participants were women, 70% of the HG had Hashimoto thyroiditis, 60% of the HG had had the diagnostic of the hypothyroidism for at least five years. Depression and hypertension were frequent in HG. All HG patients had altered TSH values and 50% had diminished T4 values. Sensorineural hearing loss was detected in 22 ears from the HG and in seven from the CG. BERA was normal in the CG and altered in 10 ears from the HG, showing L-V increase. TOAEs were absent in 12 ears from the HG and in four from the CG.

Conclusions: HG patients had more cochleovestibular symptoms, higher audiometric thresholds, increase in L-V in the BERA and absence or reduction in TOAEs amplitudes. Such alterations were not associated with THS and free T4 levels.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Audiometric thresholds in both study groups per ear tested.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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