The Study of Sensorineural Hearing Loss in Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome

Abstract

Purpose: Determine hearing thresholds at sound frequencies important for speech comprehension in subject with ocular pseudoexfoliation (PXF) and to compare them with that of control without PXF. Method: 60 subjects with ocular PXF and 60 age and sex matched controls without PXF were enrolled in this case-control study. Pure tone audiometry (bone conduction) was performed at 1,2 and 3 kilohertz (KHz) in all subjects. Thresholds were compared to an age and sex stratified standard (ISO7029) and between study groups. Hearing loss was defined as sum of tested hearing thresholds (HTL-1,2,3) lower than the ISO7029 standard median. Results: The study included 35 males and 25 females subject in each group. Hearing loss was present in 97 of 120 (80.83%) of examined ears in the case group Vs 52 of 120 (43.3%) in the control group [P<0.001; odds ratio(OR) = 5.51; 95% confidence interval (CI) ]. overall 54 subjects ( 90%) in the case group Vs 37 subjects 61.6 % in the control group had hearing loss in one or both ears (P<0.001; odds ratio(OR) = 5.5; 95% confidence interval. Hearing thresholds at each of the examined frequencies and the HTL- 1,2,3 were also significantly higher in individuals with PXF. Conclusions: Hearing thresholds at frequencies which are important for speech comprehension are significantly worse in individuals with ocular PXF as compared to matched controls. This finding may support the multi-organ nature of PXF syndrome.