Audiological impairment in multiple sclerosis: the role of neuroinflammation

BACKGROUND: In multiple sclerosis (MS), audiological problems have been highlighted for some time. In fact, advanced studies have made it possible to better understand the pathogenetic dynamics underlying this pathology and the role that “neuroinflammation” can play in this context. The aim of the study was to detect the presence in patients with MS of audiological signs whose possible variability could be an expression of the typical fluctuation of the pathology. METHODS: Two groups of subjects were studied, group A, subjects affected by MS at various clinical stages, and group B, subjects not affected by MS or by audiological and/or systemic pathologies. In these subjects otofunctional instrumental investigations were carried out to assess the presence of any signs of neural suffering of the auditory nerve pathways. RESULTS: The finding in our study in some of the patients tested of alterations in the latency times of the V wave on the ABR exam, of the positivity to the Anderson test on the impedance test, of “deviations” of the speech audiometric curve allowed us to hypothesize the existence of correlations between the different stages of “neuroinflammation” of MS and the expressive variability of auditory function. CONCLUSIONS: These results, in the perspective of an expanding case study, may be useful in defining a clinical monitoring path for MS also through targeted audiological follow-up.