Evaluation of efferent auditory system and hearing quality in parkinson’s disease: Is the difficulty in speech understanding in complex listening conditions related to neural degeneration or aging?

Nuriye Yıldırım Gökay, Bülent Gündüz, Fatih Söke, Recep Karamert, Frederick Erick Gallun, Daniel Rasetshwane

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: The effects of neurological diseases on the auditory system have been a notable issue for investigators because the auditory pathway is closely associated with neural systems. The purposes of this study are to evaluate the efferent auditory system function and hearing quality in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and to compare the findings with age-matched individuals without PD to present a perspective on aging. Method: The study included 35 individuals with PD (mean age of 48.50 ± 8.00 years) and 35 normal-hearing peers (mean age of 49 ± 10 years). The following tests were administered for all participants: the first section of the Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing Scale; puretone audiometry, speech audiometry, tympanometry, and acoustic reflexes; and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) and contralateral suppression of DPOAEs. SPSS Version 25 was used for statistical analyses, and values of p <.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in the pure-tone audiometry thresholds and DPOAE responses between the individuals with PD and their normal-hearing peers (p =.732). However, statistically significant differences were found between the groups in suppression levels of DPOAEs and hearing quality (p <.05). In addition, a statistically significant and positive correlation was found between the amount of suppression at some frequencies and the Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing Scale scores. Conclusions: This study indicates that medial olivocochlear efferent system function and the hearing quality of individuals with PD were affected adversely due to the results of PD pathophysiology on the hearing system. For optimal intervention and follow-up, tasks related to hearing quality in daily life can also be added to therapies for PD.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)263-271
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research
Volume64
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2021

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Language and Linguistics
  • Linguistics and Language
  • Speech and Hearing

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