Assessment of hearing and balance functions in patients with acromegaly by the use of an audiovestibular test battery: a cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE

Patients with acromegaly may have abnormalities in their hearing and balance as a result of modifications in body composition and involvement of the temporal bone. The objective of this study is to examine if there are any changes in the auditory and vestibular systems in individuals with acromegaly by using audiogram and vestibular function tests.

METHODS

This prospective study included 33 healthy controls and 33 acromegaly patients who were matched for age and gender distribution. A pure-tone audiometry test was conducted, including frequencies ranging from 250 Hz to 8000 Hz. Videonystagmography (VNG) was employed to assess nystagmus, an essential parameter used for assessing vestibular functions. The Video Head Impulse Test (v-HIT) was used to assess the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR). The Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) was applied to evaluate the subjective complaints of the participants.

RESULTS

The acromegaly patients had significantly elevated hearing thresholds at all frequencies (250, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000, and 6000 Hz) compared to the control group (p < 0.005). The VNG tests, including gaze horizontal, gaze vertical, saccade, spontaneous nystagmus, optokinetic, smooth pursuit, and positioning tests, did not show any statistically significant difference between the two groups (p values > 0.05). The patient group demonstrated reduced VOR gains compared to the control group in the anterior and posterior channels (p < 0.005). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups for the occurrence of aberrant eye movements (p values > 0.05). The patient group had a total DHI score of 6.6 ± 3.2, while the control group had a score of 3.2 ± 2.6 (independent samples t-test; p < 0.001). Therefore, The patient group exhibited significantly greater subjective vestibular symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with acromegaly experience impaired auditory function. The central vestibular system remains unaffected, while the gains of the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) in the posterior and anterior semicircular canals are decreased. Additionally, these patients report experiencing subjective dizziness. Screening for hearing and balance in patients with acromegaly may improve the quality of life of patients and prevent problems related to balance disorders at an early stage.