Evaluation of middle ear,auditory tube and hearing functions in patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux

Objective: To evaluate middle ear and auditory tube functions in adult individuals diagnosed with laryngopharyngeal reflux. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted at Baskent University Adana Dr. Turgut Noyan Research and Application Center Otorhinolaryngology Clinic. 26 individuals diagnosed with laryngopharyngeal reflux between the ages of 18-60 and 26 healthy individuals were included in the study. The participants were asked to answer questions examining the presence of symptoms and signs which may be related to laryngopharyngeal reflux. Reflux Finding Score and Reflux Symptom Index scores were determined for all participants. Electroacoustic immitancemetry, multifrequency tympanometry, acoustic reflex, Eustachi function tests and pure tone audimetry were performed on all participants to evaluate middle ear and auditory tube functions. Results: Significant difference was observed between the control group and the experimental group in terms of Reflux Finding Score, Reflux Symptom Index, upper respiratory tract infection frequency and certain subjective symptoms related to the ear. For left ear and both ears in total, significant difference was detected between the groups with regard to acoustic reflex thresholds at 500 Hz. All the other audiological test results did not show significant difference between groups from a statistical point. Laryngopharyngeal reflux might cause certain clinic symptoms and signs related to the auditory tube. However, its direct effect was not shown on audiological test results like electroacoustic immittancemetry, multifrequency tympanometry, acoustic reflex, auditory tube function tests and pure tone audiometry. Futher research is needed on the subject. This study was approved by Baskent University Institutional Review Board and Ethics Committee (Project no: 17/154) and supported by Baskent University Research Fund. Keywords: Auditory tube, laryngopharyngeal reflux.