Alopecia Areata May be Associated with High Frequency Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Several studies in the past have suggested an association between alopecia areata and hearing loss.
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease and follicular melanocytes are thought to be one of the important targets of the activated immune system. Melanocytes have a key role in the auditory (hearing) system, so it’s not surprising that researchers have examined the link between alopecia areata and hearing loss.
Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is the most common type and accounts for the majority of all hearing loss in the general population. SNHL refers to any cause of hearing loss due to a pathology of the cochlea, auditory nerve, or central nervous system. In other words, sensorineural hearing loss results from damage to the hair cells within the inner ear, the vestibulocochlear nerve, or the brain's central processing centers
Lien KH et al 2023
In a new study, authors performed a systematic review using five case-control studies and one cohort study. The meta-analysis showed AA patients had significantly higher mean differences in pure tone hearing thresholds at 4000 Hz and 12000 to 12500 Hz. The meta-analysis also found a three fold increased odds for SNHL among patients with AA (OR 3.18; 95% CI 2.06-4.89).
The hearing loss was most marked at 12000 to 12500 Hz. However, among 250 to 8000 Hz, the range which most sounds of daily conversations occur, only 4000 Hz showed significant difference in the author’s meta-analysis.
All in all, the authors here concluded that alopecia areata is associated with an increase of SNHL, especially at high frequencies. The authors remind us that high frequency hearing loss is often neglected by patients but may present with tinnitus. The authors proposed that consultation with an audiologist or otolaryngologist (ear, nose & throat specialist) may be indicated if patients with alopecia areata present with hearing abnormalities such as hearing loss or tinnitus.
High frequency hearing loss is a common type of hearing loss in the general population.
Humans can hear sounds in the frequency range between about 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. Difficulties hearing above 2000 Hz (2000 to 8000 Hz) is referred to as high frequency hearing loss. (To see if you can hear 2000 Hz sounds click here). About 1 in 7 people over 65 have sensorineural hearing loss. 90 % of people with hearing loss have the sensorineural hearing loss type.
What’s it like to have high frequency hearing loss?
Affected individuals may have trouble discriminating certain voices (children’s voices and some female voices), birds, animal sounds, beeps from phones and appliances, and sometimes door bells. Individuals with high frequency hearing loss may find it difficult to have conversations when there is a lot of background noise present. They have difficulty with certain letters including “S, H and F …and TH” Affected people have trouble conversing in restaurants and speaking with others at parties. Some patients also have tinnitus, which is often seen in those with sensorineural hearing loss.
Hearing aids can help high frequency hearing loss and are specifically designed for specific patterns of hearing loss.
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