Effect of hormone replacement therapy on the auditory brainstem response of postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVE To investigate whether hormone replacement therapy modifies the auditory brainstem response in postmenopausal women. METHODS Nineteen postmenopausal women received hormone replacement therapy (study group) and 25 received no treatment nor placebo (control group). In both groups, age ranged from 45 to 60 years and pure-tone sensitivity was 25 dB or better at frequencies between 500 and 2000 Hz. Auditory brainstem response was evaluated before and after 3 months of hormone use in the study group. The control group was also evaluated at the same periods. The following auditory brainstem response parameters were compared between the two groups: latencies of waves I, III, and V; I-III, III-V, and I-V interpeak intervals. RESULTS Mean age did not differ between groups (study group: 51.5 ± 0.7 years; control: 52.9 ± 0.6 years). No significant differences in wave latencies, or interpeak intervals were observed between the two groups (p > 0.05).