Causal relationship between psychiatric disorders and sensorineural hearing loss: A bidirectional two-sample mendelian randomization analysis

OBJECTIVE

This study employed bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) to investigate the causal links between psychiatric disorders and sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL).

METHODS

Instrumental variables were chosen from genome-wide association studies of schizophrenia (SCH, N = 127,906), bipolar disorder (BD, N = 51,710), major depressive disorder (MDD, N = 500,199), and SNHL (N = 212,544). In the univariable MR analysis, the inverse-variance weighted method (IVW) was conducted as the primary analysis, complemented by various sensitivity analyses to ensure result robustness.

RESULTS

SCH exhibited a decreased the risk of SNHL (OR = 0.949, P = 0.005), whereas BD showed an increased incidence of SNHL (OR = 1.145, P = 0.005). No causal association was found for MDD on SNHL (OR = 1.088, P = 0.246). Multivariable MR validated these results. In the reverse direction, genetically predicted SNHL was linked to a decreased risk of SCH with suggestive significance (OR = 0.912, P = 0.023). No reverse causal relationships were observed for SNHL influencing BD or MDD. These findings remained consistent across various MR methods and sensitivity analyses.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated that the causal relationships between diverse psychiatric disorders with SNHL were heterogeneous. Specifically, SCH was inversely associated with SNHL susceptibility, and similarly, a reduced risk of SNHL was observed in schizophrenia patients. In contrast, BD exhibited an increased incidence of SNHL, although SNHL did not influence the prevalence of BD. No causal association between MDD and SNHL was found.

Screening for hearing loss among school going children

Hearing loss results from a deviation in the perception of sounds in one's environment. A child may have hearing loss at a hearing threshold of ≥16 dB. Hearing loss is among the frequent disorders and affects lots of people globally. Hearing loss negatively affects many areas needed for classroom learning, language development, academic performance, and social development. These consequences can be reduced by early detection with appropriate audiological and speech therapy interventions. In developing countries like Ghana, there is no such laid down formal hearing screening programs for early detection of any signs of impairments. The present study was aimed at identifying the prevalence and causes of hearing loss among basic school children aged between 5 and 17 years at Freetown Basic School, Ho. The study sought to determine the causes and prevalence of hearing loss. Out of the 210 participants, 44 (21%) failed the audiometric screening test. Out of the 44 students who failed the audiometric screening test, 25 (11.9%) had hearing loss across all the test frequencies. Prevalence of hearing loss among basic school children was found to be 11.9%. This shows that hearing loss is not uncommon among school going children in the Ho Municipality. It was determined from the study that the prevailing causes of the hearing impairments may be attributable to abused use of ototoxic drugs and ear-aches and infections with majority of participants recording mild hearing loss. It can be concluded that hearing loss among school going children is preventable if appropriate measures are put in place.

Cerumen impaction shown by brain magnetic resonance imaging in patients with cognitive impairment

AIM

Hearing loss is a risk factor for the progression of dementia. Cognitive improvement is occasionally found after removal of cerumen impaction. Because patients with dementia do not usually complain about cerumen impaction, detection methods are important. The present study aimed to investigate whether cerumen impaction is observable using brain magnetic resonance imaging.

METHODS

Participants were six patients whose hearing level improved 15 dB or more unilaterally or bilaterally after the removal of cerumen impaction. A radiologist who was blind to the impaction side and whether magnetic resonance imaging scans were taken before or after impaction removal classified cerumen impaction as positive, negative or unclear.

RESULTS

Three ears classified as impaction positive and five ears classified as impaction negative corresponded accurately to the presence or absence of cerumen impaction. Among four ears classified as unclear, two did and two did not have cerumen impaction.

CONCLUSION

Careful examination of the external ear canal on brain magnetic resonance imaging can be used to detect cerumen impaction.

Hearing loss in persons with psychotic disorder--findings from a population-based survey

Hearing impairment is associated with psychotic symptoms, but has not been systematically studied in people with psychotic disorder. We used a population-based sample of 6654 persons aged 30+ to compare hearing, as measured by audiometry, in persons with schizophrenia, other non-affective psychosis and affective psychosis in the general population. The prevalence of hearing impairment did not differ in persons with psychotic disorder compared with the general population. Participants with schizophrenia and affective psychotic disorder had significantly more difficulties to hear in a noisy environment than the general population. Our results suggest that psychotic disorders are associated with minor hearing difficulties but not hearing impairment.