Audiological involvement in patients with systemic sclerosis

Objectives The aim of the present study was to evaluate hearing loss in patients diagnosed with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and to investigate the relation between hearing loss, subtypes of the disease, its duration and clinical findings, and antibody positivity. Methods The study included 47 patients with SSc and 44 healthy controls. Audiometric, tympanometric, and otoacoustic emission measurements were applied to both groups. Results The evaluation of the participants medical history showed that among the patients with SSc, 19.1% experienced ear fullness, 27.7% experienced vertigo, and 36.2% experienced tinnitus. Hearing loss was detected in 23.4% of the patients with SSc. The corresponding result was 4.3% in the control group with a statistically significant difference (p = 0.001). Transient-evoked otoacoustic emission amplitude values were significantly lower in the patients' both ears with SSc than the control group (p < 0.005). Duration of disease was significantly longer, and diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide values were significantly higher in the patients with SSc and sensorineural hearing loss. Conclusions The present study found that the incidence of hearing loss was significantly higher in the study group than in the healthy control group. In addition to other organ involvements, cochlear involvement occurs in these patients, and further studies are required.