STUDY OF HEARING LOSS IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE

Abstract

Objectives:

To study the hearing loss in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Materials and methods:

This case control study of 50 CKD patients and 50 age (±5) matched population was conducted in the Department of Ototolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery and Department of Internal medicine, B. P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, between July 2007 to December 2008. Otological examination was carried out in all the subjects. Middle ear pathology and conductive hearing loss excluded. Pure tone audiometry was carried out on each case and control (patient/participant) in a sound-proof room. Data was collected and analyzed. The sensory neural hearing loss of the CKD patients was compared with the healthy controls.

Results:

We found sensory neural hearing loss in 46% of CKD patients and 43% in normal population. High frequency hearing loss was the commonest abnormality found and was present in 31% of CKD patients and 29% in control group. Middle frequency hearing loss was found in 8% of CKD patients and 8% in control group. Low frequency hearing loss was found in 7% of CKD patients and 6% in control group. Average hearing loss ( 2000Hz) was present in 8% of CKD patients and 7% in control group. (P-value >0.05)

Conclusion:

The hearing loss in patients with chronic kidney disease was higher than the age matched normal population though not statistically significant.

Keywords: Chronic kidney disease, Pure tone audiometry, SNHL