Peripheral and central audiologic findings in patients with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome

To identify and describe peripheral and central audiological abnormalities of patients with Vogt Koyanagi Harada syndrome. Prospective, cross-sectional, observational, descriptive study. Vogt Koyanagi Harada patients referred from an ophthalmologic centre were assessed for signs and symptoms of auditory pathology. Peripheral audiological and central auditory processing tests were performed. To standardize the latter, methodological controls were matched for sex, age and audiometric chart. 21 patients were included (3 male, 18 female), mean age 40.7 years (+/-11.82). Nine of the 21 complained of tinnitus and nine suspected hearing loss. Exclusively or mainly sensorial abnormalities of pure tone audiometric chart were documented in 61.9% (mainly selective troughs at 4 and 8 kHz); 95.3% of patients had deficit in high-frequency audiometry. Five of the patients had sensorial disorders in the speech audiometry. No central auditory processing disorder was seen. Most of the patients with Vogt Koyanagi Harada syndrome had objective peripheral audiological abnormalities, although few revealed any symptoms.