Study of auditory function in children with chronic lung diseases

Objective

Chronic hypoxia has an evident effect on cochlear function and hearing sensitivity. Otoacoustic emissions’ testing is efficient in detecting subtle cochlear dysfunction. This cross sectional study was designed to assess the cochlear function in children with chronic lung diseases who were exposed to prolonged hypoxia and prolonged use of ototoxic drugs (as aminoglycosides) using basic audiological evaluation and transient evoked otoacoustic emissions testing.

Methods

The study was carried out on 30 Egyptian children with chronic lung disease recruited from the Pediatric Chest Clinic, Children's hospital, Ain Shams University. Twenty normal children were included as control.

Results

Six patients (20%) showed abnormal otoacoustic emissions. A significant effect of hypoxia on otoacoustic emissions findings was found (P < 0.05). However, there was no significant effect of inhaled aminoglycosides on auditory functions whether pure tone audiometry, speech audiometry and transient evoked otoacoustic emissions testing.

Conclusions

Children with chronic lung diseases are liable to cochlear dysfunction due to prolonged hypoxia. Inhaled aminoglycosides in chronic lung diseases is relatively safe on auditory functions.