Temporomandibular joint symptoms in patients with midfrequency sensorineural hearing loss.
It was hypothesized that a correlation exists between a specific form of sensorineural hearing loss and temporomandibular joint dysfunction and/or parafunction, with the audiometric configuration of the loss showing a notch (poorest threshold) at 1000 or 2000 Hz in the range from 250 through 4000 Hz. Fifty patients at audiology clinics who showed this audiometric configuration were compared with 50 control patients, matched for age, sex, and severity of loss. The midfrequency notch group reported more symptoms of temporomandibular joint dysfunction (p less than 0.005), including more temporomandibular joint pain (p less than 0.0001), tenderness (p less than 0.025), and jaw noises (p less than 0.05). The notch group also reported significantly more bruxism (p less than 0.001) and clenching (p less than 0.001). Patients found having this midfrequency notch have been predominantly female (64% in this study), the percentage who are female increasing with age. The findings demonstrate a relationship between the form of sensorineural hearing loss studied and symptoms of temporomandibular joint dysfunction.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004423:Ear / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology