Audi̇ologi̇c and vestibular results in fi̇bromyaljia pati̇ents

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, is a chronic disorder with unknown etiology. These patients frequently suffer from otologic complaints. The aim of this study is to perform detailed audiovestibular assessment in patients with fibromyalgia. The study included fibromyalgia patients with range of age 20 to 60 years who were diagnosed at the department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation and healthy volunteers with same range of age. All the study subjects underwent audiological assessment, multifrequency tympanometry, transient otoacoustic emission, ocular and cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potantials tests. Mean ages were 45,48+9,15 and 43,03+7,3 years in fibromyalgia patients and controls, respectively. Mean duration of the pain was 4,71±4,4 years (1 to 20 years). Pure tone hearing thresholds of right and left ears in fibromyalgia patients were found to be decreased compared to controls (p<0,005). In multifrequency tympanometry testing, resonance frequency values were 653,03±161,98; 898,48± 84,30 Hz for right ears and 745,45±163,15; 921,21±101,57 Hz for left ears of the patients and controls, respectively. There was not a significant difference in reproductibility values between two groups (p>0,005). There was not a significant difference in signal-noise ratios values except 1000Hz and 4000 Hz in right ear between two groups (p>0,005). CVEMP waves were obtained in all controls. CVEMP waves could not be obtained in 5 right ears and 4 left ears of the patients (p<0,05). ). Also, oVEMP waves were obtained in all controls. oVEMP waves could not be obtained in 7 right ears and 10 left ears of the patients (p<0,05). Our findings support the presence of audiologic and vestibular disfunction in fibromyalgia patients. Further research that focus on pathogenesis of these dysfunctions are required in patients with fibromyalgia. Keywords: Fibromyalgia, Multifrequency Tympanometry, TEOAE, VEMP,