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Acoustic reflex patterns in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

  • Otology
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Abstract

The aim of the study is to investigate acoustic reflex testing in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients. Amplitude, latency, and rise time of stapedial reflex were recorded for 500 and 1000 Hz contralateral stimulus. Statistical analysis was performed by the Wilcoxon test and the level of significance was set at 5 %. Fifty-one amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients and ten sex- and age-matched control subjects were studied. Patients were further divided in two groups: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis—bulbar (38 cases, with bulbar signs at evaluation) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis—spinal (13 cases, without bulbar signs at evaluation). Stapedial reflex was present in all patients. There was a statistically significant difference in the mean amplitude, latency, and rise time between the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients as compared with the controls. Amplitude was lower in both the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis—bulbar and the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis—spinal patients than in the controls (p < 0.05) and rise time was longer in both patient groups compared with the controls (p < 0.05). These results confirm the presence of abnormal acoustic reflex patterns in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis cases with bulbar signs and, moreover, suggesting a possible subclinical involvement of the stapedial motor neuron even in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis—spinal patients. Amplitude and rise time seem to be good sensitive parameters for investigating subclinical bulbar involvement.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. ENT Department, University of Torino, Torino, Italy

    Andrea Canale, Roberto Albera, Michelangelo Lacilla, Andrea Albera & Francesca Sacco

  2. Rita Levi Montalcini’ Department of Neuroscience, University of Torino, Torino, Italy

    Antonio Canosa, Adriano Chiò & Andrea Calvo

Authors
  1. Andrea Canale
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  2. Roberto Albera
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  3. Michelangelo Lacilla
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  4. Antonio Canosa
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  5. Andrea Albera
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  6. Francesca Sacco
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  7. Adriano Chiò
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  8. Andrea Calvo
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Andrea Canale.

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The study was approved by the ethical committee of our institution.

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All patients signed a written informed consent.

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The authors report no conflicts of interest.

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Canale, A., Albera, R., Lacilla, M. et al. Acoustic reflex patterns in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 274, 679–683 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-016-4284-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-016-4284-y

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