Summary
The present study was carried on forty-five patients of confirmed hypothyroidism. Complete clinical examination and laboratory investigations were done regarding audiological and vestibular system. It was found that hypothyroidism affects the ear at multiple sites producing various types of hearing impairment viz. conductive, sensorineural and mixed. Vestibular system was found to be affected only minimally. The patients were then given levothyroxine and follow-up was done when they were euthyroid, which revealed statistically significant improvement in hearing threshold in 30% ears, in which conductive impairment was more common to be improved. The middle ear compliance and pressure, on impedance audiometry, also improved significantly in 50% and 87.50% ears respectively. Statistically significant change was also observed in acoustic reflex threshold. Improvement was also noted in wave I, V and interpeak (I-V) latencies, on Brain stem Evoked Response Audiometry (statistically not significant). The results of auditory investigations suggest a causal relationship between hypothyroidism and hearing loss. The site of
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Post JT. Hypothyroid deafness. The laryngoscope 1964; 74: 221–32.
Vant Hoff W, Stuard DW. Deafness in myxedema. O J Med. 1979; 48: 361–7.
De Vos JA. Deafness in hypothyroidism. Journal of Laryngology and Otology. 1963; 77: 390–414.
Rubenstein M, Rubenstein C, Theodor R. Hearing dysfunction associated with congenital sporadic hypothyroidism. Annals of Otology, Rhinology and Laryngology. 1974; 83: 814–19.
Bhatia PL et al. Audiological and Vestibular function tests in hypothyroidism. Laryngoscope. 1977; 87: 2082–9.
Means JH, DeGroot LJ and Stanbury JS. The thyroid and its diseases. McGraw Hill Book Company, Inc. New York, NY, pp. 318–382; 1963.
Howarth AF, Lloyd HE. Perceptive deafness in hypothyroidism. British Medical Journal. 1956; 1: 431–433.
Anand VT et al. Auditory investigations in hypothyroidism. Acta Otolaryngol (Stockh). 1989; 108: 83–87.
McMohan BJ. Influence of constitutional factors in otological conditions. Annals of Otolaryngology. 1947;56: 298–304.
Stephens SDG. Temporary threshold drift in myxoedema. Journal of Laryngology and Otology. 1970; 84: 317–321.
Meyerhoff WL. Hypothyroidism and the Ear. Laryngoscope. Oct 1979; 89(10Pt.2; Suppl.19): 1–25.
Schätzale W and Haubrich J. Histochemische Veränderungen der Murschwein Chencochlea bei experimenteller Hypothyrose. Arch Klin Exp Phr Nas: Kchikopfhceitk. 1967; 188: 224–231.
Anniko M, Rosenkoist U. Tectorial and basal membranes in experimental hypothyroidism. Archives of Otolaryngology. 1992; 108(4): 218–220.
Vanasse M et al. Normal brainstem auditory evoked potentials in adult hypothyroidism. Laryngoscope, 1989; 99(3): 302–306.
Himelfarb MZ et al. Auditory brainstem responses in thyroid dysfunction. Journal of Laryngology and Otology. 1981; 95: 679–686.
Hohmann D et al. Effect of hyperlipidemia and hypothyroidism on auditory evoked brain stem response. HNO, 1990; 38 (12): 446–450.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Malik, V., Shukla, G.K. & Bhatia, N. Hearing profile in hypothyroidism. Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 54, 285–290 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02993744
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02993744