Seasonal sensorineural hearing loss associated with allergic rhinitis: A case report

To the Editor: The nasal cavity is anatomically connected to the middle ear by the eustachian tubes, and the middle ear mucosa can be considered an extension of the airways, at least in its inflammatory response.1 Although mechanisms are not completely clarified, it is well known that inflammation occurring in the nose or paranasal sinuses can result in impairment of the ear function, and that respiratory allergy is a risk factor for otitis media with effusion.2 In this sense, conductive hearing loss may complicate the most severe form of rhinosinusitis, mainly because of the eustachian tube involvement.3,4 Nevertheless, an effect of allergic rhinitis on the neural system of the ear, although possible in principle, has never been described. The presence of a conductive hearing loss, as reasonably expected, was repeatedly excluded by both audiometric test and tympanometry. [...]the magnetic nuclear resonance clearly identified an inflammatory edema of the acoustic nerves.