Audiological and temporal bone findings in myxedema.

Abstract

Fifteen patients with confirmed myxedema at a median age of 48 years (range 32 to 60 years) were referred for audiological evaluation before and after treatment with levothyroxine. The median interval between the pretreatment and posttreatment investigations was 18 months (range 9 to 27 months). In addition, 13 patients at a median age of 78 years (range 64 to 95 years) were audiologically reexamined after long-standing levothyroxine treatment. The observation period upon treatment with levothyroxine was 40 months (range 32 to 46 months). No improvement in hearing sensitivity could be demonstrated either in the younger patients or in the elderly. When compared to an age- and sex-matched unscreened population, the myxedematous patients did not demonstrate any different degree of hearing loss. Histological investigation of the temporal bones from an 83-year-old woman with myxedema, however, showed no morphological changes or deposition of glycosaminoglycans, changes which are compatible with true age-related hearing loss. It is concluded that no association exists between myxedema and hearing impairment and that no morphological or structural changes due to myxedema can be demonstrated in the temporal bones.