title: Correlation of otologic complaints in soldiers with speech disorders after traumatic brain injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of otologic complaints in subjects with dysphonia and traumatic brain injury (TBI) in a sample population of the US Army.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 292 subjects were identified with a new diagnosis of voice disorder during a 3.5-year period at three large military medical centers. Of them, 70 subjects were also identified with TBI and had no history of dysphonia before this time period. In those with voice disorders and TBI, documentation of hearing complaints, hearing loss, tinnitus, or vertigo was recorded. Time to visit an otolaryngologist and audiologist were also recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 70 soldiers were identified with a diagnosis of a voice disorder and TBI. Of these soldiers, 83% had at least one otologic complaint and 50% had more than one. Approximately 60%, 39%, and 44% of the subjects reported tinnitus, hearing loss, or vertigo, respectively. A total of 62% of the subjects with otologic complaints, TBI, and dysphonia were seen by an otolaryngologist. Time until an otolaryngologist evaluated these soldiers varied widely, with an average of 17 months and standard deviation of 12.5 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Otologic manifestations are common in soldiers with dysphonia and TBI. Careful consideration of communication impairment from otologic dysfunction in those with speech disorders after TBI is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, San Antonio Military Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Electronic address: greg.r.dion@us.army.mil.
authors.forename: Gregory R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Dion
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, San Antonio Military Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Courtney L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, San Antonio Military Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Peter D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, San Antonio Military Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: N Scott
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Howard
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001307:Auditory Perception; D001753:Blast Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D055154:Dysphonia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D004427:Ear Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006309:Hearing; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008887:Military Medicine; D008889:Military Personnel; D015995:Prevalence; D013064:Speech Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014717:Vertigo / Q000453:epidemiology; D014833:Voice Quality; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Blast injury; Dysphonia; Hearing loss; Otologic dysfunction; Speech disorders; Tinnitus; Traumatic brain injury; Vertigo