Department of Otolaryngology, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Int J Audiol. 2012 Jan;51(1):10-5. doi: 10.3109/14992027.2011.609185. Epub 2011 Oct 10.
The high energy demand of the auditory and visual pathways render these sensory systems prone to diseases that impair mitochondrial function. Primary open-angle glaucoma, a neurodegenerative disease of the optic nerve, has recently been associated with a spectrum of mitochondrial abnormalities. This study sought to investigate auditory processing in individuals with open-angle glaucoma. DESIGN/STUDY SAMPLE: Twenty-seven subjects with open-angle glaucoma underwent electrophysiologic (auditory brainstem response), auditory temporal processing (amplitude modulation detection), and speech perception (monosyllabic words in quiet and background noise) assessment in each ear. A cohort of age, gender and hearing level matched control subjects was also tested.
While the majority of glaucoma subjects in this study demonstrated normal auditory function, there were a significant number (6/27 subjects, 22%) who showed abnormal auditory brainstem responses and impaired auditory perception in one or both ears.
The finding that a significant proportion of subjects with open-angle glaucoma presented with auditory dysfunction provides evidence of systemic neuronal susceptibility. Affected individuals may suffer significant communication difficulties in everyday listening situations.
听觉和视觉通路的高能量需求使这些感觉系统容易受到损害线粒体功能的疾病的影响。原发性开角型青光眼是一种视神经退行性疾病，最近与一系列线粒体异常有关。本研究旨在调查开角型青光眼患者的听觉处理能力。
设计/研究样本：27 名开角型青光眼患者在每只耳朵中接受电生理（听觉脑干反应）、听觉时处理（调幅检测）和语音感知（安静和背景噪声中的单音节词）评估。还对一组年龄、性别和听力水平匹配的对照组受试者进行了测试。
虽然本研究中的大多数青光眼患者表现出正常的听觉功能，但仍有相当数量的患者（27 名受试者中的 6 名，22%）在一只或两只耳朵中表现出异常的听觉脑干反应和听觉感知受损。
发现相当比例的开角型青光眼患者存在听觉功能障碍，这为系统性神经元易感性提供了证据。受影响的个体在日常听力环境中可能会遇到严重的沟通困难。
