Publication:

Evaluation of effect of brainstem evoked response audiometry in hyperlipidemic patients

Background Brain stem evoked response audiometry (BERA) is a useful objective assessment of hearing. The major advantage of this procedure is its ability to test even infants in whom conventional audiometry may not be useful. This investigation can be used as a screening test for deafness at high risk. This study is to correlate changes in brainstem evoked response audiometry parameters concerning lipid profile.

Methods The study was conducted between January 2019 to June 2020 on 50 patients attending ENT OPD in Vinayaka Mission’s Kirupanandha Variyar Medical College and Hospital, Salem. All patients with auditory and/or vestibular complaints were seen at the otorhinolaryngology OPD and underwent an otorhinolaryngological examination, audiological studies (pure tone audiometry) and an electrophysiological assessment BERA.

Results The results of BERA was considered. A total of 5 waveforms and 3 interpeak latency waves were calculated. It was recorded from both the ears. There was a significant increase in the values of absolute waves II, III, IV, and V and interpeak latency wave values I-II and I-V.

Conclusions Early identification of hyperlipidemic patients is useful in preventing disease progression and associated morbidity and mortality. BERA is a non-invasive method which can help us to detect central auditory pathway dysfunction at early stages in hyperlipidemic patients even before the patient's experience symptomatic hearing loss.