Evaluation of efferent auditory system in children with epilepsy

Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects on medial olivococlear system activity in children with epilepsy, a detailed examination of cochlea and efferent auditory system in children with epilepsy using contralateral suppression tests Methods: Thirty-four patients (68 ears) aged between 5 and 15 years who received a diagnosis of epilepsy or new diagnosis of epilepsy at the Pediatric Neurology clinic of Başkent University Hospital and 34 healthy children (68 ears) at the same age were recruited. A questionnaire was applied to the questionnaires regarding the reseach, family history, socioeconomic status of the participant. Following the otoscopic examination at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology at the Başkent University Hospital, at the Audiology, Speech, Voice Disorders Unit Başkent University Hospital, non-invasive audiologic evaluation (pure audio audiometry, speech audiometry, immitansmetric evaluation, transient evoked autacoustic emission (TEOAE), Contralateral supression was measured with TEOAE) were performed. Results: The control group consisted of 16 (47.1%) girls and 18 (52.9%) boys while the patient group consisted of 17 (50%) girls and 17 (50%) boys. In addition, the age group of the patient group was calculated as 10.6 and the age group of the control group as 10.5. Between the patient group and the control group, the right and left ears were below 20 dB and were within normal hearing range and no statistically significant difference was found. When we compared the results of two groups of TEOAE, we found that in the right ear of the patient group, 2000 Hz, 2800 Hz, 4000 Hz; the emission responses at the 1400 Hz, 2000 Hz and 2800 Hz frequencies of the left ear were lower than those of the control group, but not statistically significant. The frequency of suppression at the frequencies of in all frequencies in the right and left ear of the control group, in all frequencies seen in the right ear, the amount of suppression was lower in the patient group than in the control group, only 2000 Hz frequency was statistically significant. In all the frequencies seen in the left ear, the patient group had a lower amount of suppression than the control group, and 1400 Hz frequency was found to be statistically significant. Conclusion: Findings at the end of the study indicate that the inner ear of patients with epilepsy is not affected. On the other hand, epilepsy patients should continue their studies on efferent hearing system affects and disease characteristics that may be associated with these possible influences. Key words: Children with epilepsy, efferent hearing system, transient excited autoacoustic emission, contralateral suppression