The Journal of International
Advanced Otology
Original Article

Audiovestibular Dysfunction in Patients with Fibromyalgia Syndrome

1.

Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Başkent University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey

J Int Adv Otol 2021; 17: 348-352
DOI: 10.5152/JIAO.2021.8709
Read: 1236 Downloads: 618 Published: 01 July 2021

OBJECTIVES: Fibromyalgia syndrome is a disorder of widespread pain with unknown etiology. These patients frequently suffer from otologic complaints. This study aims to analyze the audiovestibular functions in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome.

METHODS: The study included 33 fibromyalgia patients and 33 healthy volunteers. All the study subjects underwent audiological assessment, multifrequency tympanometry, transient otoacoustic emission, and ocular and cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials tests.

RESULTS: Pure-tone hearing thresholds of right and left ears were found to be decreased in fibromyalgia patients compared to controls (P < 0.05). Middle ear resonance frequency values were significantly decreased in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome compared to controls (P < .05). The values for signal-to-noise ratios were higher in controls than in the FMS patients. The difference was significant for 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz (P > .005). Cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potential waves were obtained in all controls, but could not be obtained in 5 right ears and 4 left ears of the fibromyalgia patients (P < .05). Also, ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials were obtained in all controls, but could not be obtained in 7 right ears and 10 left ears of the patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (P < .05).

CONCLUSION: Our findings support the presence of audiovestibular dysfunction in patients with fibromyalgia. Further research that focuses on the pathogenesis of these dysfunctions is required.

Cite this article as: Tuncer M, Çoban K, Erbek SS, Erbek HS. Audiovestibular dysfunction in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome. J Int Adv Otol. 2021; 17(4): 348-352.

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