Objective: The primary objective of this pilot study was to investigate hearing and its relationship to the neuropsychiatric profile, cognition and quality of life in Parkinson’s disease (PD).

Background: Negative consequences of undiagnosed and unmanaged hearing loss such as social withdrawal, depression, and lower quality of life are well documented in the general population. Hearing impairment in Parkinson’s has received only limited attention in the past, possibly because PD patients often report no perceived hearing disability yet negative consequences of hearing impairment might aggravate communication difficulties and social withdrawal.

Method: Participants with PD were recruited in a tertiary movement disorder clinic.  Demographic, audiological, neuropsychiatric (Beck’s Depression Inventory:BDI, Apathy Scale:AS, State Trait Anxiety Inventory:STAI), cognitive screen (MoCA) and quality of life (SF-36) data was collected from each participant

Results: 29 participants (mean age: 66 years, M:F= 1.6:1, mean disease duration 5.2 years) completed the study, assessments were done in the ON state. Even though 65.5% of the participants had normal hearing for age in pure tone audiometry (PTA), functional hearing loss was present in 58.6% (n = 17) participants, defined as scores below the 2.5^th percentile on the Hearing in Noise Test (HINT). Poor functional hearing was present in 65% of those with a disease duration of <4 years. The majority of those with poor functional hearing did not perceive a hearing impairment. Both the PTA of the better-hearing ear and the general health subscale of SF-36 were found to be significant predictors of functional hearing in noise. Nine (31%) patients scored in the depressed range of the BDI, 13(45%) in the apathetic range of the AS, 10 (34%) in the anxiety range of the STAI and 9 in the MCI range of the MoCA (remainder normal cognition).  Hearing deficits did not correlate significantly with non-motor symptoms (NMS), including cognition, or with other quality of life measures.

Conclusion: Poor functional hearing was present in the majority of PD participants, occurred early in the disease, was not noticed by participants and was independent of cognition and other NMS. Functional hearing deficits in PD will require further investigation and tailored treatment.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/functional-hearing-impairment-common-in-parkinsons-disease-insights-from-a-pilot-study/