Publication:

Study of incidence of sensorineural hearing loss in allergic rhinitis

Background The aim was assessment of sensorineural hearing loss incidence in allergic rhinitis. Anatomical and physiological relation of nose with ear increases the possibility of conductive hearing loss in allergic rhinitis, but association of sensorineural hearing loss is least studied.

Methods 60 patients with clinically diagnosed allergic rhinitis were compared with age and gender matched controls. All participants were subjected for pure tone audiometry; distortion product otoacoustic emission and tympanometry. Facts and statistics were analysed by chi-square and t- test with significance at p<0.05.

Results Study population had sensorineural hearing loss which was in high frequencies, distortion product otoacoustic emissions revealed low distortion product and mostly “A” type tympanogram when compared with the controls.

Conclusions We found patients having allergic rhinitis are prone to sensorineural hearing loss.