Auditory System Abnormalities in Early Graying of Hair: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND

Melanocytes in the hair and melanocytes in the stria vascularis of the inner ear have common origins. Many congenital and acquired disorders of cutaneous pigmentation have auditory abnormalities. There is a paucity of studies on the auditory associations of early graying.

AIM AND OBJECTIVES

The aim of the study was to determine the association between early graying and auditory system abnormalities.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional analytical study was done on 100 patients with early graying and 100 controls. Pure tone audiometry was done at 0.25 to 4 kHz for bone conduction, conventional and high frequencies from 0.25 to 8 kHz for air conduction, and extended high frequencies from 9 kHz to 20 kHz for air conduction in both ears.

RESULTS

Bilateral hearing loss >25 dB was present in three patients with early graying based on the four-frequency average of 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz. Patients with early graying had significantly higher thresholds for hearing except at 0.25 kHz in the right ears and 0.25, 2, 10, and 11 kHz in the left ears.

LIMITATIONS

We did not assess cochlear function with otoacoustic emissions, and our study design did not allow us to assess causality and temporal association.

CONCLUSION

Our study found that early graying may be a visible marker of changes in auditory thresholds. Patients with early graying need periodic auditory evaluations and health education to prevent further hearing loss.