Is allergic rhinitis associated with hidden hearing loss in pediatric/adolescent patients? A cross-sectional study

Introduction This study aims to investigate the potential impact of allergic rhinitis (AR) on auditory function in children/adolescents and whether AR causes hidden hearing loss. Methods This cross-sectional study enrolled children/adolescents (12–18 years) with AR between January 2021 and December 2023. The control group was manually matched. Participants underwent a battery of audiological assessments, including pure-tone audiometry with extended high frequencies, tympanometry, distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE), electrocochleography, auditory brainstem response, and speech audiometry in noise. Results A total of 60 AR patients and 30 healthy controls were included. Patients with AR had significantly worse pure-tone air conduction thresholds in the 9–16 kHz range and lower signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) for DPOAE at frequencies of 6–10 kHz. There were also statistically significant decreases in amplitudes of waves V (0.35 ± 0.06 ms vs. 0.47 ± 0.18 ms, p = 0.023) and I (0.25 ± 0.08 ms vs. 0.39 ± 0.07 ms, p = 0.009), and increases in amplitude ratios of waves V and I (1.46 ± 0.11 vs. 1.22 ± 0.13, p = 0.023) at 80 dB nHL. Furthermore, AR patients had significantly greater summation potential (SP)/action potential (AP) amplitude ratios at 80 dB nHL (0.42 ± 0.12 vs. 0.31 ± 0.08, p = 0.000) and worse SNR loss on speech audiometry in noise (5.25 ± 2.99 vs. 2.37 ± 2.04, p = 0.001). Conclusion AR could lead to hearing impairment in children/adolescents, manifested as hidden hearing loss. These findings underline the importance of thorough auditory evaluations for children/adolescents with AR to detect and treat potential hidden hearing loss.