Oestrogen deficiency and growth hormone treatment in childhood are not associated with hearing in adults with turner syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
Women with Turner syndrome (TS) have an increased prevalence of hearing loss, with conductive (CHL) and sensorineural (SNHL) components. The association between hearing loss and clinical parameters, particularly oestrogen and previous growth hormone (GH) treatment, was investigated.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study of pure tone audiometry tests in an adult TS population. Previous ENT history, karyotype, anthropomorphic measurements and the impact of oestrogen and childhood GH therapy were assessed. One hundred and thirty-eight women (median age 29, range 16-67 years) completed the study.


RESULTS
Normal hearing was found in 20.3% of women, CHL in 18.8%, SNHL in 57.2% and confounding factors in 3.6%. Neither CHL nor SNHL were associated with oestrogen deficiency or GH treatment independent of age. CHL but not SNHL was more common in those with a history of recurrent otitis media (p < 0.01) and monosomy 45,X (p < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Current regimens of oestrogen and GH therapy have no impact on adult hearing loss in TS, independent of age. The prevalence of SNHL increases with age. CHL but not SNHL is associated with ENT history and karyotype. According to present evidence, the only possible intervention to reduce hearing loss in women with TS remains assiduous treatment of ENT problems in childhood.
Ostberg
Julia E
JE
Department of Endocrinology, Middlesex Hospital, London, UK. j.ostberg@ucl.ac.uk
Beckman
Adam
A
Cadge
Barbara
B
Conway
Gerard S
GS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004967:Estrogens / Q000172:deficiency*; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006314:Hearing Loss, Conductive / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007621:Karyotyping; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000150:complications; D015995:Prevalence; D012008:Recurrence; D014424:Turner Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D004967:Estrogens; D013006:Growth Hormone