Abstract
Background Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is an otologic emergency and could lead to social difficulties and mental disorders in some patients. Although many studies have analyzed altered brain function in populations with hearing loss, little information is available about patients with idiopathic SSNHL. This study is aimed at investigating brain functional changes in SSNHL via functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Methods Thirty-six patients with SSNHL and thirty well-matched normal hearing individuals underwent resting-state fMRI. Amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF), fractional ALFF (fALFF), and functional connectivity (FC) values were calculated. Results In the SSNHL patients, ALFF and fALFF were significantly increased in the bilateral putamen but decreased in the right calcarine cortex, right middle temporal gyrus (MTG), and right precentral gyrus. Widespread increases in FC were observed between brain regions, mainly including the bilateral auditory cortex, bilateral visual cortex, left striatum, left angular gyrus (AG), bilateral precuneus, and bilateral limbic lobes in patients with SSNHL. No decreased FC was observed. Conclusion SSNHL causes functional alterations in brain regions, mainly in the striatum, auditory cortex, visual cortex, MTG, AG, precuneus, and limbic lobes within the acute period of hearing loss.
Highlights
Hearing loss is one of the most common sensory disorders in the world
There were no significant differences in age or body mass index (BMI) between the sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) and healthy control (HC) groups
In patients with SSNHL, an average of 15 dB HL improvement was observed in the pure-tone average (PTA) of the affected ear after treatment
Summary
Hearing loss is one of the most common sensory disorders in the world. According to the World Health Organization, there are approximately 470 million patients with disabling hearing loss worldwide [1]. Auditory deprivation may impose a substantial socioeconomic burden on patients Those who do not recover normal hearing have difficulties in sound localization and social communication, which may cause potentially mental disorders such as anxiety and depression [18, 19]. Many studies have analyzed altered brain function in populations with hearing loss, little information is available about patients with idiopathic SSNHL. Widespread increases in FC were observed between brain regions, mainly including the bilateral auditory cortex, bilateral visual cortex, left striatum, left angular gyrus (AG), bilateral precuneus, and bilateral limbic lobes in patients with SSNHL. SSNHL causes functional alterations in brain regions, mainly in the striatum, auditory cortex, visual cortex, MTG, AG, precuneus, and limbic lobes within the acute period of hearing loss
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