Evaluation of the effect of hearing aids on balance functions in individuals with hearing LOSS

Although dizziness and related vestibular symptoms can be seen in many patients with sensorineural hearing loss, there are studies showing that vestibular dysfunction may occur even when there is no evidence of inner ear or systemic disease that may cause vestibulopathy. There are not enough studies in the literature on the effect of hearing aid use in patients without obvious vestibular symptoms. In the light of this information, the effect of hearing aid use on balance functions in individuals with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is aimed to be evaluated. Forty adult patients aged 18-50 years, who applied to the Baskent University Istanbul Hospital ENT Outpatient Clinic and were diagnosed with bilateral moderate sensorineural hearing loss, and 40 adult volunteers with the same age and sex-matched hearing loss were included in the study. Pure tone audiometry, tympanometry, videonistgmography, Cervical-Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials (c-VEMP), Video Head Impulse Test (VHIT), Static Postrography objective tests were applied to all participants. In addition, vertigo disability inventory, international fall efficiency scale and berg balance scale questionnaires were conducted. After the audio-vestibular evaluation, a behind-the-ear digital hearing aid was applied to the patient group, and the audio-vestibular tests and questionnaire evaluations were repeated after 6 months. Comparisons of the study group were made before and after. As a result; in cVEMP tests, while there is no significant difference observed at the latency times before and after the use of hearing aids (p>0.05) a statistically significant difference was observed between the amplitute values (p<0.01), in the VHIT results, it was observed that the saccades disappeared at a statistically significant level in the 6th month controls compared to the pre-use of hearing aids in the patient group (p<0.01), in Static Posturography tests, a statistically significant difference was observed in terms of Fall Risk before and after hearing aid use (p<0.01). Statistically significant decreases were also observed in the results of the Dizziness Disability Inventory, Berg Balance Scale and International Fall Efficiency Scale (p<0.01, p<0.01, p<0.01). As a result, it is thought that the hearing aid has a positive effect on vestibular functions and may improve objective findings. Keywords: Balance, hearing loss, hearing aid, Cervical Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials (cVEMP), vHIT, Posturography.