A study conducted in Italy* and cited on JointAndBone.com has demonstrated a high prevalence of hearing loss among patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Another study, conducted in China back in 2000**, showed that AS patients also have a high rate of hearing loss, particularly in the high frequency range. Both studies pointed to a correlation between hearing loss and autoimmune diseases. In the case of the AS study, the hearing loss was “paralleled by abnormal immunology and is a local expression of systemic autoimmune disease.”

“The high prevalence of hearing loss in autoimmune diseases supports the importance of audiometric evaluation in such patients.” Stated the researches in the Italian study. Both studies stressed that hearing tests should be given hearing tests on a periodic basis.

The Italian researches believe that by quick recognition of hearing loss in a patient can lead to prompt treatment and the patient’s hearing can be stabilized and restored. Hopefully, a physician can catch the hearing loss in the early stages of Rheumatoid Arthritis before cranial nerve involvement.

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