AN EVALUATION OF THE HEARING EXAMINATIONS OF VITILIGO PATIENTS IN TURKEY

Objective: Vitiligo is an acquired, idiopathic autoimmune disease characterized by depigmented maculae and marked with melanocyte destruction. The study was performed to detect possible audiological abnormalities in vitiligo patients. We aimed to use conventional audiological tests (pure tone threshold)and altered cochlear function, by measuring an d analyzing transient evoked otoacoustic emission (TEOAE) testing any subclinical auditory abnormalities of in patients with vitiligo, compared with controls. Materials and Methods: Thirty-three patients with vitiligo and 32 age- and sex-matched healthy control cases were included in this study. Audiometric and TEOAE testings for both ears were performed for both patients and controls. Audiometric examinations were performed using a pure tone audiometer in a silent cabin. Pure tone thresholds were determined for each ear at frequencies of 250 – 6000 Hz for air conduction. Results: Findings of the audiometric tests indicate that there was no difference between vitiligo and control group cases in pure tone threshold values between 250 and 6000 Hz. There was not sensorineural hearing loss on pure-tone audiogram in patients with vitiligo.Although there is no change in pure tone audiometry in vitiligo patients, it is considered that reductions in transient evoked otoacoustic emission values began to affect the outer hairy cells . Conclusion: Conventional audiometry with TEOAE testing are reliable tests for the early detection of cochlear dysfunction. Allpatients with vitiligo required routine monitoring and audiological assessments for early identification and monitoring of changes as the disease progresses.