Evaluation of hearing with pure-tone audiometry in alopecia areata patients

Abstract

Background and Design: We aimed to evaluate whether alopecia areata (AA) patients had hearing loss with pure-tone audiometry. Materials and Methods: In the study, 48 patients with AA and 39 healthy volunteers were induded. All the patients were examined by the otorhinolaryngologist and audiometric examinations were performed using a pure-tone audiometer. Pure-tone thresholds for both ears were evaluated at frequencies of 250-8000 Hz for air conduction. Results: Sensorineural hypoacusis was found in 18.8% of AA patients and 10.3% of control subjects. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (p=0.422). The pure-tone average for the right ear and the left ear in AA patients was 10.89 +/- 5.45 and 10.50 +/- 5.98, respectively. In control subjects, it was 10.25 +/- 3.43 for the right ear and 10.23 +/- 5.46 for the left ear. Pure-tone averages for both ears in AA patients were higher than controls; but the differences were not statistically significant (p=0.829 and p=0.526, respectively). When we compared hearing thresholds for both ear for frequencies, there were not any significant differences between AA patients and controls (p>0.05). Conclusion: There was no difference in terms of hearing loss between AA patients and healthy controls.