Audiovestibular functions in rheumatoid arthritis.

Audiologic, middle ear impedance and vestibular function tests were administered to 25 patients with classical or definite rheumatoid arthritis and 25 normal control subjects of 30 to 50 years age group. Any possible influence of other common causes of hearing loss was avoided by carefully selecting the patients. Six patients had mild sensorineural hearing loss and another had bilateral mixed hearing loss. Results of tone decay test, speech reception threshold, speech discrimination score and short increment sensitivity index tests suggested cochlear pathology being responsible for the sensorineural hearing loss. There was no statistical correlation between hearing loss or otoadmittance abnormality and duration or activity of rheumatoid arthritis or positivity of rheumatoid factor. Electronystagmographic recording of saccades and bithermal caloric induced nystagmus revealed no significant abnormality.