Sensorineural hearing loss associated with hypoparathyroidism.

The hearing loss of 21 patients with hypoparathyroidism was investigated by pure tone audiometry, short increment sensitivity index (SISI) test, Békésy audiometry, speech audiometry, and auditory brain stem response. Sensorineural hearing loss was found in 7 of 21 patients (13 of 42 ears) receiving no treatment for hypoparathyroidism or having chronic hypocalcemia. The high SISI score, presence of recruitment, and prolongation of the wave I (N1) latency suggested that the inner ear is responsible for hearing loss in these cases. Inner ear dysfunction was probably due to the low calcium level in inner ear fluid and/or the direct effect of vitamin D deficiency on the inner ear.