The thyroid and audition

Abstract

Hearing loss, both congenital and acquired, can be associated in a more than happenstance manner with disorders of almost every organ system; the thyroid gland being no exception. Although theliterature is replete with speculations and observations, complete understanding of the thyroid gland-auditory system relationship is lacking. Several known syndromes, seemingly unrelated except for the association of hearing loss and thyroid abnormalities, have been described and, from the standpoint of hearing loss, may be conveniently divided into four groups: 1. non-genetic congenital; 2. non-genetic acquired; 3. genetic congenital; and 4. genetic delayed.