Audio and vestibular analyses in patient with multiple sclerosis: a case–control study

Abstract

Background

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurologic demyelinating disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. As well, Brainstem involvement is common in MS. Auditory and vestibular tests are included in the methods that can be used to examine the brainstem. So, this study aimed to evaluate brainstem in MS patients using MLD, ABR, and VEPM as well as demonstrating the predictor factors in MLD, ABR, and VEPM tests for MS occurrence.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, MLD, ABR, and VEPM were recorded in 25 healthy individuals and 25 MS patients aged between 18 and 45 years old. MS diagnosis was made by a neurologist using the McDonald's criterion. The obtained data were analysed using SPSS.

Result

A significant difference was observed among the latency of III, V, interpeak intervals I–III, III–V, I–V, V/I ratio in ABR, P13, and N23 in VEMP, and MLD value in the two groups (p < .05). The latency of V, P13, N23, V/I ratio, and MLD were also found to be associated with the occurrence of MS.

Conclusion

latency of V, P13, N23, V/I ratio, and MLD appear to be predictors of the occurrence of MS; therefore, auditory brainstem tests such as MLD, ABR, and VEPM can be considered as useful tools for detecting early lesions in MS patients.

Keywords:

• Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials
• auditory brainstem response
• masking level difference
• multiple sclerosis
• brain stem

Acknowledgments

The authors hereby thank the MS patients participating in the study. Also, the authors express no conflict of interest. This article was extracted from a research project approved by the Research Ethics Deputy of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences (IR.AJUMS.REC.1398.339).

Disclosure statement

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Additional information

Funding

The author(s) received financial support for the research of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences.