Audiological assessment in organophosphorus compound poisoning.

The aim of this prospective study design is to understand the audiological parameters in central and peripheral auditory pathway in organophosphorus compound (OPC) poisoning, within the setting of Tertiary care/Medical College Hospital we studied Distortion Product Oto Acoustic Emission (DPOAE) and brain evoked response audiometry (BERA) in 25 patients with OPC poisoning with respiratory failure and 75 patients without respiratory failure. The results showed that DPOAE was absent in 17 patients with respiratory failure and 51 patients without respiratory failure. BERA showed significant prolongation in wave I, wave III and wave V latencies in both the groups. In conclusion, the current study has demonstrated significant changes in the auditory pathway both in peripheral and central with OPC exposure. The damage induced by these agents has been suggested as a combination of oto- and neurotoxicity with or without respiratory failure. Otolaryngologist should be alert to the toxic properties of OPC and conduct a comprehensive audiological assessment even in the conditions of deliberate poisoning.