Evaluation of cochlear involvement by distortion product otoacoustic emission in Behçetʹs disease

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate cochlear involvement in patients with Behçetʹs disease. Materials and methods Twenty-six Behçetʹs disease patients (52 ears) and 24 sex and age-matched healthy control subjects (48 ears) were included in the study. Pure-tone audiometry at frequencies 250, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000, 6000 Hz, immittance measures including tympanometry and acoustic reflex testing and DPOAE (distortion product otoacoustic emission) testing were performed in the patients and controls. Results A sensorineural hearing loss was found in eight patients (30.7%) as it was bilateral in five and unilateral in three patients. Although no typical audiometric configuration was found, one patient had a flat type audiogram, and the others had a high frequency hearing loss. The DPOAE responses of the patients and controls were significantly different in all frequencies (p < 0.05). Conclusion These results indicate that cochlea is affected by damage of outer hair cells in Behçetʹs disease.