Relationship Between Malocclusions and Hearing Disorders

SUMMARY Hearing Disorders have been common diseases. They develop complications such as hearing loss and psycho-social contact problems and would affect children learning process if not properly treated. Malocclusions are included as cause factors of such disorders. The existence and/or extent of interrelations between malooclusions and hearing disorders is a subject of controversy. A case-control research conducted on 60 patients suffering from audiological disorders at Loghman Medical Center in 1994. The control group was completely matched with the selected patients in regard to age, sex, occupation, and history of trauma of head-ear area, poisonings, genetic and other diseases. The result of research proved the existence of malocclusion in 93 percent of the patients suffering from hearing (audiological) disorders and 63 percent in control groups. The K.Dow (x2) test has shown that the presence of their factor causes the increase of hearing disorders to the extent of 48 percent (P < 0. 001). Among the malocclusions, the most effective role concerns malocclusion class-3, then T.M.D. (temporo Mandibular Dysfunction), and finally Deep. Bite one. Therefore, the reduce hearing disorders, it is recorrunended that malocclusion issue too be considered by otorhinolaryngologists.