Vitiligo, audiometry, transient excited autoacoustic emission (TEOAE), suppression

Vitiligo is a pigmentation disorder that occurs in any region of the skin and is characterized by limited, white spots. The aim of our work was to examine the inner ear and efferent auditory system by using transient evoked otoacoustic emission (TEOAE) and contralateral suppression test in vitiligo patients. A total of 63 subjects; 31 patients with vitiligo and 32 healthy subjects had been participated in the study. Immitansmetric measurements of participants were performed, and then their hearing levels were measured by applying pure tone audiometry. The evaluation of each group with otoacoustic emission test was performed in two stages: before giving contralateral acoustic stimulation (CAS) and during 70 dB narrow band contralateral acoustic stimulation. Mean age of patients with vitiligo was 36,81±8,36, mean age of control group was 37,44±7,67 and the difference between two groups was not statistically significant (p=0,756). Tympanogram results of all subjects were within normal limits. By comparison pure tone hearing levels between vitiligo and control group at 125Hz-16000 Hz frequency, pure tone hearing levels of vitiligo patients at all frequencies were higher than the control group. These differences were found statistically significant at all frequencies (p<0,05). When compared two group's TEOAE results, emission results obtained from vitiligo patients were statistically significantly lower than control group at all frequencies (p<0,05). When the rates of contralateral suppression were compared; suppression was detected at all frequencies in the vitiligo patient group, except for the frequency of 4000 Hz and detected at all frequencies in the control group at a significant level (p<0,05). There was no statistically significant difference between sensorineural hypoacusis and sex and duration of vitiligo disease (p˃0.05). As a result, our findings indicate the presence of auditory dysfunction in vitiligo. When the vitiligo has been diagnosed, the patients should undergo audiologic evaluation and should be informed about possible pathological involvement. Future studies should continue about inner ear condition in vitiligo patients and potential interactions that may be associated with disease characteristics. Keywords: Vitiligo, audiometry, transient excited autoacoustic emission (TEOAE), suppression