Auditory Functions in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis

Electrophysiological Studies of Auditory Functions and CSF Analyses in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis

The study will analyze the auditory functions of patients with Multiple Sclerosis using auditory tests like pure tone auditory test, speech perception test, Auditory Brain Response (ABR) and Distortion Product Otoacustic Emission (DPOAE). CSF will be collected by lumbar puncture and analyzed looking for inflammatory markers.

The results of DPOAE and CSF will be correlated to identify statistically significant correlation.

Case-Control study

Tools for patients' selection and inclusion in the study

STEP one

• Full medical records detailed for neurological diseases
• Brain and spinal cord MRI performed 12 months (n1) before and most recent one (n2)
• Lumbar puncture
• Blood test
• Questionnaire for screening hearing disorders
• App for screening hearing loss

STEP two

• Pure Tone Auditory test + Tympanometry and Stapedial Reflex
• Speech Perception test
• In case of tinnitus: tinnitus questionnaire and acuphenometry
• DPOAEs
• ABR

STEP three in case of Hearing impairment

- MRI Tractography

Inclusion Criteria

• age >18 and <50,
• no history of hearing loss,
• no psychiatric condition
• no familial history of otosclerosis/deafness/genetic hearing loss
• patients with PD and/or MS.

Exclusion Criteria

• Conductive hearing loss
• stroke < 2 years
• cardiovascular disease non under control
• diabetes
• hypotensive disorders
• alcohol abuse
• recreational drug consumption
• epilepsy