Re: The Link between Rheumatoid Arthritis and Hearing Loss

[Guest guest]

My hearing has sounded " stuffy " , for lack of a better word, off and

on for over six months. I've also had ringing in my ears and all

noise sounding " distant " before and after for about the same amount

of time. No hearing test, yet, but my doctor is stumped. My rheumy

insisted that it had nothing to do with autoimmune disorders, and

acted like I was nuts. Hmmm....maybe I should bring this in when I

go to fire him in a month....

It may be completely unrelated, but I think it should be

investigated, in any case.

Dang it, I wish I could find a decent rheumatologist!

> The Link between Rheumatoid Arthritis and Hearing Loss

>

> As if dealing with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) wasn't enough,

researchers

> agree that a link exists between RA and certain types of hearing

loss

> that can blunt the perception of differing tones or make all

noises and

> voices sound distant. Furthermore, they agree that hearing loss is

an

> articulation of the disease itself--rather than drug toxicity from

> medications--but they still cannot entirely pinpoint how or where

the

> hearing loss occurs.

>

> Consider a recent study's findings: Looking for physical changes

in an

> RA patient's middle ear and variations in their hearing capacity,

the

> study used 74 patients and 45 controls. Every subject went through

the

> same line of speech tests, acoustic reflex tests and standard and

high

> frequency tone tests. In every case, the RA patients' hearing

threshold

> was higher than the controls' hearing threshold. (All subjects--RA

> patient and control--had normal pressure in their middle ear.)

Worse,

> the patients who had RA longer exhibited greater hearing loss; for

> those with RA for one to five years, the hearing loss usually

began at

> 10,000 Hertz (Hz) while those with RA for eleven years and on

exhibited

> hearing loss at all frequencies, low and high. Because the

researchers

> are using the Hertz measurement, what is at question in this study

is

> the tone of the sound, not the perceived volume or intensity of

the

> sound (that would be decibels); 50 to 60 Hz is a low bass tone and

> +10,000 Hz is a high-pitched shrill--the normal range for a human

is 20

> Hz to 20,000.

>

> Similar studies have been done before and have found the same

trend: RA

> somehow brings about hearing loss over time. A 2002 study, using

37 RA

> patients, reported 35% having sensorineural hearing loss, 24% with

> conductive hearing loss and an approximate 11% with both types of

> hearing loss. Sensorineural hearing loss occurs when there is a

change

> in how the cochlea functions; the cochlea is the chamber

converting

> sound vibrations into nerve impulses. Conductive hearing loss

occurs

> when there is a physical defect or obstructions affecting the

passage

> of sound into the inner ear's cochlea. For people with RA (and

also

> without) sensorineural hearing loss is the more common form of

hearing

> loss.

>

> Understandably, the studies point to a malfunction in the cochlea

as

> the location of sensorineural hearing loss but don't get very much

> father than that--not yet at least. Another study argues that the

> joints within the ear deteriorate just as the joints in the hand

or the

> hip would, altering the ear's hearing mechanics. Similarly,

another

> study indicates a slackening, or " laxity " in the middle ear's

tranducer

> mechanism.

>

> It is worth considering that hearing loss comes in sensorineural

and

> conductive form--sometimes even simultaneously. If anything else,

this

> suggests there is no one source of hearing loss when it comes to

RA,

> but a complex, " multifocal involvement " as one study puts it. But

it is

> especially worth considering that however gloomy the numbers and

head

> scratching may seem, the same technological advances and

commitment to

> improved care that have allowed the researchers to first identify

this

> problematic link will one day allow them to fix it.

>

>

>

> Article References

> Ozturk A, Yalcin S, Kaygusuz I, Sahin S, Gok U, Karlidag T,

Ardicoglu

> O. High-frequency hearing loss and middle ear involvement in

rheumatoid

> arthritis. Am J Otolaryngol. 2004 Nov-Dec;25(6):411-7.

>

> Ozcan M, Karakus MF, Gunduz OH, Tuncel U, Sahin H. Hearing loss

and

> middle ear involvement in rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatol Int.

2002

> May;22(1):16-9.

>

> Colletti V, Fiorino FG, Bruni L, Biasi D. Middle ear mechanics in

> subjects with rheumatoid arthritis. Audiology. 1997

> May-Jun;36(3):136-46.

>

> Raut VV, Cullen J, Cathers G. Hearing loss in rheumatoid

arthritis. J

> Otolaryngol. 2001 Oct;30(5):289-94.

[Guest guest]

My hearing has sounded " stuffy " , for lack of a better word, off and

on for over six months. I've also had ringing in my ears and all

noise sounding " distant " before and after for about the same amount

of time. No hearing test, yet, but my doctor is stumped. My rheumy

insisted that it had nothing to do with autoimmune disorders, and

acted like I was nuts. Hmmm....maybe I should bring this in when I

go to fire him in a month....

It may be completely unrelated, but I think it should be

investigated, in any case.

Dang it, I wish I could find a decent rheumatologist!

> The Link between Rheumatoid Arthritis and Hearing Loss

>

> As if dealing with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) wasn't enough,

researchers

> agree that a link exists between RA and certain types of hearing

loss

> that can blunt the perception of differing tones or make all

noises and

> voices sound distant. Furthermore, they agree that hearing loss is

an

> articulation of the disease itself--rather than drug toxicity from

> medications--but they still cannot entirely pinpoint how or where

the

> hearing loss occurs.

>

> Consider a recent study's findings: Looking for physical changes

in an

> RA patient's middle ear and variations in their hearing capacity,

the

> study used 74 patients and 45 controls. Every subject went through

the

> same line of speech tests, acoustic reflex tests and standard and

high

> frequency tone tests. In every case, the RA patients' hearing

threshold

> was higher than the controls' hearing threshold. (All subjects--RA

> patient and control--had normal pressure in their middle ear.)

Worse,

> the patients who had RA longer exhibited greater hearing loss; for

> those with RA for one to five years, the hearing loss usually

began at

> 10,000 Hertz (Hz) while those with RA for eleven years and on

exhibited

> hearing loss at all frequencies, low and high. Because the

researchers

> are using the Hertz measurement, what is at question in this study

is

> the tone of the sound, not the perceived volume or intensity of

the

> sound (that would be decibels); 50 to 60 Hz is a low bass tone and

> +10,000 Hz is a high-pitched shrill--the normal range for a human

is 20

> Hz to 20,000.

>

> Similar studies have been done before and have found the same

trend: RA

> somehow brings about hearing loss over time. A 2002 study, using

37 RA

> patients, reported 35% having sensorineural hearing loss, 24% with

> conductive hearing loss and an approximate 11% with both types of

> hearing loss. Sensorineural hearing loss occurs when there is a

change

> in how the cochlea functions; the cochlea is the chamber

converting

> sound vibrations into nerve impulses. Conductive hearing loss

occurs

> when there is a physical defect or obstructions affecting the

passage

> of sound into the inner ear's cochlea. For people with RA (and

also

> without) sensorineural hearing loss is the more common form of

hearing

> loss.

>

> Understandably, the studies point to a malfunction in the cochlea

as

> the location of sensorineural hearing loss but don't get very much

> father than that--not yet at least. Another study argues that the

> joints within the ear deteriorate just as the joints in the hand

or the

> hip would, altering the ear's hearing mechanics. Similarly,

another

> study indicates a slackening, or " laxity " in the middle ear's

tranducer

> mechanism.

>

> It is worth considering that hearing loss comes in sensorineural

and

> conductive form--sometimes even simultaneously. If anything else,

this

> suggests there is no one source of hearing loss when it comes to

RA,

> but a complex, " multifocal involvement " as one study puts it. But

it is

> especially worth considering that however gloomy the numbers and

head

> scratching may seem, the same technological advances and

commitment to

> improved care that have allowed the researchers to first identify

this

> problematic link will one day allow them to fix it.

>

>

>

> Article References

> Ozturk A, Yalcin S, Kaygusuz I, Sahin S, Gok U, Karlidag T,

Ardicoglu

> O. High-frequency hearing loss and middle ear involvement in

rheumatoid

> arthritis. Am J Otolaryngol. 2004 Nov-Dec;25(6):411-7.

>

> Ozcan M, Karakus MF, Gunduz OH, Tuncel U, Sahin H. Hearing loss

and

> middle ear involvement in rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatol Int.

2002

> May;22(1):16-9.

>

> Colletti V, Fiorino FG, Bruni L, Biasi D. Middle ear mechanics in

> subjects with rheumatoid arthritis. Audiology. 1997

> May-Jun;36(3):136-46.

>

> Raut VV, Cullen J, Cathers G. Hearing loss in rheumatoid

arthritis. J

> Otolaryngol. 2001 Oct;30(5):289-94.

[Guest guest]

I wish you could find a decent one too . In the mean time, I'd

bring in this article and give it to your doctor. Even if you wind up

firing him, at least you can say that you helped educate YOUR doctor.

I've noticed hearing loss recently only because of the telephone.

a

On Jun 29, 2005, at 5:18 PM, tandarat wrote:

> My hearing has sounded " stuffy " , for lack of a better word, off and

> on for over six months.  I've also had ringing in my ears and all

> noise sounding " distant " before and after for about the same amount

> of time.  No hearing test, yet, but my doctor is stumped.  My rheumy

> insisted that it had nothing to do with autoimmune disorders, and

> acted like I was nuts.  Hmmm....maybe I should bring this in when I

> go to fire him in a month....

>

> It may be completely unrelated, but I think it should be

> investigated, in any case.

>

> Dang it, I wish I could find a decent rheumatologist!

>

>

[Guest guest]

I wish you could find a decent one too . In the mean time, I'd

bring in this article and give it to your doctor. Even if you wind up

firing him, at least you can say that you helped educate YOUR doctor.

I've noticed hearing loss recently only because of the telephone.

a

On Jun 29, 2005, at 5:18 PM, tandarat wrote:

> My hearing has sounded " stuffy " , for lack of a better word, off and

> on for over six months.  I've also had ringing in my ears and all

> noise sounding " distant " before and after for about the same amount

> of time.  No hearing test, yet, but my doctor is stumped.  My rheumy

> insisted that it had nothing to do with autoimmune disorders, and

> acted like I was nuts.  Hmmm....maybe I should bring this in when I

> go to fire him in a month....

>

> It may be completely unrelated, but I think it should be

> investigated, in any case.

>

> Dang it, I wish I could find a decent rheumatologist!

>

>

[Guest guest]

WOW!

5 years ago I went through all kinds of testing, even an MRI of my

brain stem trying to find out why I have muffled hearing, I'm missing

some tones, some bad tinnitus and sometimes have a hard time making

out what people are saying (mine is particularly bad in spring and

high humidity -- the worst times for my RA). Most of the time I can

hear sounds inside my head, including my eyes moving back and forth

(it took me years to link that sound with the movement of my eyes).

It's not disabling, but annoying!

No one, including the Arthritis Foundation could tell me about any

link to RA. Thank you a for this information!!!!!!!!

Sure it doesn't mean there's anything I can do, but nice to know I'm

not crazy or that it's not age related (had it since about 35, 43 now).

Sharon

> > The Link between Rheumatoid Arthritis and Hearing Loss

> >

> > As if dealing with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) wasn't enough,

> researchers

> > agree that a link exists between RA and certain types of hearing

> loss

> > that can blunt the perception of differing tones or make all

> noises and

> > voices sound distant. Furthermore, they agree that hearing loss is

> an

> > articulation of the disease itself--rather than drug toxicity from

> > medications--but they still cannot entirely pinpoint how or where

> the

> > hearing loss occurs.

> >

> > Consider a recent study's findings: Looking for physical changes

> in an

> > RA patient's middle ear and variations in their hearing capacity,

> the

> > study used 74 patients and 45 controls. Every subject went through

> the

> > same line of speech tests, acoustic reflex tests and standard and

> high

> > frequency tone tests. In every case, the RA patients' hearing

> threshold

> > was higher than the controls' hearing threshold. (All subjects--RA

> > patient and control--had normal pressure in their middle ear.)

> Worse,

> > the patients who had RA longer exhibited greater hearing loss; for

> > those with RA for one to five years, the hearing loss usually

> began at

> > 10,000 Hertz (Hz) while those with RA for eleven years and on

> exhibited

> > hearing loss at all frequencies, low and high. Because the

> researchers

> > are using the Hertz measurement, what is at question in this study

> is

> > the tone of the sound, not the perceived volume or intensity of

> the

> > sound (that would be decibels); 50 to 60 Hz is a low bass tone and

> > +10,000 Hz is a high-pitched shrill--the normal range for a human

> is 20

> > Hz to 20,000.

> >

> > Similar studies have been done before and have found the same

> trend: RA

> > somehow brings about hearing loss over time. A 2002 study, using

> 37 RA

> > patients, reported 35% having sensorineural hearing loss, 24% with

> > conductive hearing loss and an approximate 11% with both types of

> > hearing loss. Sensorineural hearing loss occurs when there is a

> change

> > in how the cochlea functions; the cochlea is the chamber

> converting

> > sound vibrations into nerve impulses. Conductive hearing loss

> occurs

> > when there is a physical defect or obstructions affecting the

> passage

> > of sound into the inner ear's cochlea. For people with RA (and

> also

> > without) sensorineural hearing loss is the more common form of

> hearing

> > loss.

> >

> > Understandably, the studies point to a malfunction in the cochlea

> as

> > the location of sensorineural hearing loss but don't get very much

> > father than that--not yet at least. Another study argues that the

> > joints within the ear deteriorate just as the joints in the hand

> or the

> > hip would, altering the ear's hearing mechanics. Similarly,

> another

> > study indicates a slackening, or " laxity " in the middle ear's

> tranducer

> > mechanism.

> >

> > It is worth considering that hearing loss comes in sensorineural

> and

> > conductive form--sometimes even simultaneously. If anything else,

> this

> > suggests there is no one source of hearing loss when it comes to

> RA,

> > but a complex, " multifocal involvement " as one study puts it. But

> it is

> > especially worth considering that however gloomy the numbers and

> head

> > scratching may seem, the same technological advances and

> commitment to

> > improved care that have allowed the researchers to first identify

> this

> > problematic link will one day allow them to fix it.

> >

> >

> >

> > Article References

> > Ozturk A, Yalcin S, Kaygusuz I, Sahin S, Gok U, Karlidag T,

> Ardicoglu

> > O. High-frequency hearing loss and middle ear involvement in

> rheumatoid

> > arthritis. Am J Otolaryngol. 2004 Nov-Dec;25(6):411-7.

> >

> > Ozcan M, Karakus MF, Gunduz OH, Tuncel U, Sahin H. Hearing loss

> and

> > middle ear involvement in rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatol Int.

> 2002

> > May;22(1):16-9.

> >

> > Colletti V, Fiorino FG, Bruni L, Biasi D. Middle ear mechanics in

> > subjects with rheumatoid arthritis. Audiology. 1997

> > May-Jun;36(3):136-46.

> >

> > Raut VV, Cullen J, Cathers G. Hearing loss in rheumatoid

> arthritis. J

> > Otolaryngol. 2001 Oct;30(5):289-94.

[Guest guest]

WOW!

5 years ago I went through all kinds of testing, even an MRI of my

brain stem trying to find out why I have muffled hearing, I'm missing

some tones, some bad tinnitus and sometimes have a hard time making

out what people are saying (mine is particularly bad in spring and

high humidity -- the worst times for my RA). Most of the time I can

hear sounds inside my head, including my eyes moving back and forth

(it took me years to link that sound with the movement of my eyes).

It's not disabling, but annoying!

No one, including the Arthritis Foundation could tell me about any

link to RA. Thank you a for this information!!!!!!!!

Sure it doesn't mean there's anything I can do, but nice to know I'm

not crazy or that it's not age related (had it since about 35, 43 now).

Sharon

> > The Link between Rheumatoid Arthritis and Hearing Loss

> >

> > As if dealing with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) wasn't enough,

> researchers

> > agree that a link exists between RA and certain types of hearing

> loss

> > that can blunt the perception of differing tones or make all

> noises and

> > voices sound distant. Furthermore, they agree that hearing loss is

> an

> > articulation of the disease itself--rather than drug toxicity from

> > medications--but they still cannot entirely pinpoint how or where

> the

> > hearing loss occurs.

> >

> > Consider a recent study's findings: Looking for physical changes

> in an

> > RA patient's middle ear and variations in their hearing capacity,

> the

> > study used 74 patients and 45 controls. Every subject went through

> the

> > same line of speech tests, acoustic reflex tests and standard and

> high

> > frequency tone tests. In every case, the RA patients' hearing

> threshold

> > was higher than the controls' hearing threshold. (All subjects--RA

> > patient and control--had normal pressure in their middle ear.)

> Worse,

> > the patients who had RA longer exhibited greater hearing loss; for

> > those with RA for one to five years, the hearing loss usually

> began at

> > 10,000 Hertz (Hz) while those with RA for eleven years and on

> exhibited

> > hearing loss at all frequencies, low and high. Because the

> researchers

> > are using the Hertz measurement, what is at question in this study

> is

> > the tone of the sound, not the perceived volume or intensity of

> the

> > sound (that would be decibels); 50 to 60 Hz is a low bass tone and

> > +10,000 Hz is a high-pitched shrill--the normal range for a human

> is 20

> > Hz to 20,000.

> >

> > Similar studies have been done before and have found the same

> trend: RA

> > somehow brings about hearing loss over time. A 2002 study, using

> 37 RA

> > patients, reported 35% having sensorineural hearing loss, 24% with

> > conductive hearing loss and an approximate 11% with both types of

> > hearing loss. Sensorineural hearing loss occurs when there is a

> change

> > in how the cochlea functions; the cochlea is the chamber

> converting

> > sound vibrations into nerve impulses. Conductive hearing loss

> occurs

> > when there is a physical defect or obstructions affecting the

> passage

> > of sound into the inner ear's cochlea. For people with RA (and

> also

> > without) sensorineural hearing loss is the more common form of

> hearing

> > loss.

> >

> > Understandably, the studies point to a malfunction in the cochlea

> as

> > the location of sensorineural hearing loss but don't get very much

> > father than that--not yet at least. Another study argues that the

> > joints within the ear deteriorate just as the joints in the hand

> or the

> > hip would, altering the ear's hearing mechanics. Similarly,

> another

> > study indicates a slackening, or " laxity " in the middle ear's

> tranducer

> > mechanism.

> >

> > It is worth considering that hearing loss comes in sensorineural

> and

> > conductive form--sometimes even simultaneously. If anything else,

> this

> > suggests there is no one source of hearing loss when it comes to

> RA,

> > but a complex, " multifocal involvement " as one study puts it. But

> it is

> > especially worth considering that however gloomy the numbers and

> head

> > scratching may seem, the same technological advances and

> commitment to

> > improved care that have allowed the researchers to first identify

> this

> > problematic link will one day allow them to fix it.

> >

> >

> >

> > Article References

> > Ozturk A, Yalcin S, Kaygusuz I, Sahin S, Gok U, Karlidag T,

> Ardicoglu

> > O. High-frequency hearing loss and middle ear involvement in

> rheumatoid

> > arthritis. Am J Otolaryngol. 2004 Nov-Dec;25(6):411-7.

> >

> > Ozcan M, Karakus MF, Gunduz OH, Tuncel U, Sahin H. Hearing loss

> and

> > middle ear involvement in rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatol Int.

> 2002

> > May;22(1):16-9.

> >

> > Colletti V, Fiorino FG, Bruni L, Biasi D. Middle ear mechanics in

> > subjects with rheumatoid arthritis. Audiology. 1997

> > May-Jun;36(3):136-46.

> >

> > Raut VV, Cullen J, Cathers G. Hearing loss in rheumatoid

> arthritis. J

> > Otolaryngol. 2001 Oct;30(5):289-94.

[Guest guest]

Sharon,

You're welcome! I know how it feels to have it validated even though

it won't do anything for the hearing loss.

Maybe since they know that the hearing loss is linked to RA, they will

find a way to prevent it.

It's surprising that the Arthritis Foundation isn't aware of this link

since these studies have shown the link for several years.

a

On Jul 3, 2005, at 10:17 AM, sharonmacd wrote:

> WOW!

>

> 5 years ago I went through all kinds of testing, even an MRI of my

> brain stem trying to find out why I have muffled hearing, I'm missing

> some tones, some bad tinnitus and sometimes have a hard time making

> out what people are saying (mine is particularly bad in spring and

> high humidity -- the worst times for my RA).  Most of the time I can

> hear sounds inside my head, including my eyes moving back and forth

> (it took me years to link that sound with the movement of my eyes).

> It's not disabling, but annoying!

>

> No one, including the Arthritis Foundation could tell me about any

> link to RA.  Thank you a for this information!!!!!!!!

>

> Sure it doesn't mean there's anything I can do, but nice to know I'm

> not crazy or that it's not age related (had it since about 35, 43

> now).

>

> Sharon

[Guest guest]

Sharon,

You're welcome! I know how it feels to have it validated even though

it won't do anything for the hearing loss.

Maybe since they know that the hearing loss is linked to RA, they will

find a way to prevent it.

It's surprising that the Arthritis Foundation isn't aware of this link

since these studies have shown the link for several years.

a

On Jul 3, 2005, at 10:17 AM, sharonmacd wrote:

> WOW!

>

> 5 years ago I went through all kinds of testing, even an MRI of my

> brain stem trying to find out why I have muffled hearing, I'm missing

> some tones, some bad tinnitus and sometimes have a hard time making

> out what people are saying (mine is particularly bad in spring and

> high humidity -- the worst times for my RA).  Most of the time I can

> hear sounds inside my head, including my eyes moving back and forth

> (it took me years to link that sound with the movement of my eyes).

> It's not disabling, but annoying!

>

> No one, including the Arthritis Foundation could tell me about any

> link to RA.  Thank you a for this information!!!!!!!!

>

> Sure it doesn't mean there's anything I can do, but nice to know I'm

> not crazy or that it's not age related (had it since about 35, 43

> now).

>

> Sharon

[Guest guest]

Hi, I think you are on to something.... my wife has RA started

when she was 10 years old, remissed and came back with a vengence

about 5 years ago. I have noticed that her hearing isn't what it

used to be. She is bed ridden and needs to have her TV audio turned

up very high... I feel, since RA affects the bones, it must be

affecting the small bones in the inner ear also???

>

> > My hearing has sounded " stuffy " , for lack of a better word, off

and

> > on for over six months.  I've also had ringing in my ears and

all

> > noise sounding " distant " before and after for about the same

amount

> > of time.  No hearing test, yet, but my doctor is stumped. 

My

rheumy

> > insisted that it had nothing to do with autoimmune disorders,

and

> > acted like I was nuts.  Hmmm....maybe I should bring this in

when I

> > go to fire him in a month....

> >

> > It may be completely unrelated, but I think it should be

> > investigated, in any case.

> >

> > Dang it, I wish I could find a decent rheumatologist!

> >

> >

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi, I think you are on to something.... my wife has RA started

when she was 10 years old, remissed and came back with a vengence

about 5 years ago. I have noticed that her hearing isn't what it

used to be. She is bed ridden and needs to have her TV audio turned

up very high... I feel, since RA affects the bones, it must be

affecting the small bones in the inner ear also???

>

> > My hearing has sounded " stuffy " , for lack of a better word, off

and

> > on for over six months.  I've also had ringing in my ears and

all

> > noise sounding " distant " before and after for about the same

amount

> > of time.  No hearing test, yet, but my doctor is stumped. 

My

rheumy

> > insisted that it had nothing to do with autoimmune disorders,

and

> > acted like I was nuts.  Hmmm....maybe I should bring this in

when I

> > go to fire him in a month....

> >

> > It may be completely unrelated, but I think it should be

> > investigated, in any case.

> >

> > Dang it, I wish I could find a decent rheumatologist!

> >

> >

>

>