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Sudden sensorineural deafness and hormone replacement therapy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

David Strachan
David Strachan*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, St. James' Beckett Street, Leeds, UK.
*
Address for correspondence: Mr D. R. Strachan, Department of Otolaryngolgy, St James' Hospital, Beckett Street, Leeds LS9 7TF
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Abstract

Whilst the oral contraceptive pill (OC) has been implicated on a number oif occasions as a cause of sensorineural hearing loss, there are no published reports linking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to otological symptoms. A case of sensorineural loss with tinnitus following commencement of HRT is described, followed by a discussion outlining the fundamental differences between the OC and HRT, thus expaining why a vascular aetiology is unlikely. It is hypothesized that otological symptoms in such cases may be due to the effect of oestrogens on electrolyte balance disturbing inner ear function and also a direct effect on the auditory pathways mediated in part by alterations in neurotransmitter receptor concentrations.

Keywords

Hearing loss, sensorineuralOestrogen replacement therapy
Type
Clinical Records
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 110 , Issue 12 , December 1996 , pp. 1148 - 1150
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1996

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