Auditory and otological manifestations in adults with HIV/AIDS.

OBJECTIVES This study describes the prevalence and nature of auditory and otological manifestations in adults with HIV/AIDS through clinical examinations and self-reported symptoms across stages of disease progression. DESIGN Descriptive cross-sectional group design. STUDY SAMPLE Two hundred HIV positive adult patients (56.5% male; 43.5% female; mean age: 37.99 ± 6.66 years) attending the Infectious Disease Clinic of a tertiary referral hospital in Pretoria, South Africa were included. Patients were interviewed, medical files were reviewed, and clinical examinations, including otoscopy, tympanometry, pure-tone audiometry, and distortion product otoacoustic emissions, were conducted. A matched HIV negative control group was used to compare hearing loss prevalence. RESULTS Tinnitus (26%), vertigo (25%) hearing loss (27.5%), otalgia (19%), and ear canal pruritis (38%) were prevalent self-reported symptoms. Abnormalities in otoscopy, tympanometry, and otoacoustic emissions were evident in 55%, 41%, and 44% of patients respectively. Pure-tone average (PTA) hearing loss > 25 dBHL was evident in 14% of patients and 39% for hearing loss > 15 dBHL (PTA). Significant differences across average thresholds in the HIV positive and HIV negative control group was present. An increase in self reported vertigo, self reported hearing loss, OAE abnormalities, and hearing loss (PTA > 15 dBHL and PTA > 25 dBHL) was seen with disease progression but was not statistically significant. A significant increase (p <.05) in sensorineural hearing loss was however evident with disease progression. CONCLUSIONS Auditory and otological symptoms are more common in patients with HIV with a general increase of symptoms, especially sensorineural hearing loss, towards advanced stages of disease progression.