Re: Still in this group; unanswered questions

[Guest guest]

Those bones in the ear are called ossicles.

It is possible for RA to play a role in hearing loss. Here's one study:

*************************

Rheumatol Int. 2002 May;22(1):16-9.

Hearing loss and middle ear involvement in rheumatoid arthritis.

Ozcan M, Karakus MF, Gunduz OH, Tuncel U, Sahin H.

Ankara Numune Hospital Otorhinolaryngology Clinic, Turkey.

mugeozcan@...

In this controlled study, hearing and middle ear functions were investigated

in 37 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 35 controls in order to

study the prevalence and the nature of hearing loss in RA. The prevalence of

the hearing impairment was significantly higher in the RA group, and the

majority was bilateral (P<0.001). Of the patients, 35.1% had sensorineural

(SN), 24.3% had conductive loss, and 10.8% had a mixed type of hearing loss.

The hearing loss was positively correlated to the Steinbrocker functional

index. The prevalence of abnormal tympanograms was 37.8%, while it was 17.1%

in the control group. The probable site of involvement responsible for the

SN loss was the cochlea, and discontinuity of the ossicles, rather than

stiffness, was responsible for the conductive hearing loss. The presence of

a mixed type of hearing loss suggested a multifocal involvement of the

audiologic system in RA.

PMID: 12120906

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=PubMed & list_uids=1\

2120906 & dopt=Abstract

********************************

Not an MD

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

[ ] Still in this group; unanswered questions

> Hi,

> I saw my neurologist today, and she said my walking problem is

> arthritis. The MRA was fine, but she didn't mention the " tiny little

> stroke " and I am kicking myself for not pressing the point. I

> called my Primary, and I asked her assistant about my hearing

> loss. He said it might be from the arthritis, and I asked how I

> could have arthritis in the ear. He said there are small bones in

> the ear and that these can be affected.

>

> I'm going to look this up. Arthritis of the ear? Well, anything's

> possible. I'm getting a referral for physical therapy, gait training,

> and a referral for a nutritionist.

>

> So, more questions. Working at home gives me an advantage,

> here. I can call or be called anytime during the day.

[Guest guest]

Hi,

Thanks, this is what I was looking for. I still have some

unanswered questions, and another is my type of hearing loss. I

haven't pushed enough on this.

>

> Those bones in the ear are called ossicles.

>

> It is possible for RA to play a role in hearing loss. Here's one

study:

>

>

>

> *************************

>

> Rheumatol Int. 2002 May;22(1):16-9.

>

>

> Hearing loss and middle ear involvement in rheumatoid

arthritis.

>

>

> Ozcan M, Karakus MF, Gunduz OH, Tuncel U, Sahin H.

>

> Ankara Numune Hospital Otorhinolaryngology Clinic, Turkey.

> mugeozcan@y...

>

> In this controlled study, hearing and middle ear functions were

investigated

> in 37 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 35 controls in

order to

> study the prevalence and the nature of hearing loss in RA. The

prevalence of

> the hearing impairment was significantly higher in the RA

group, and the

> majority was bilateral (P<0.001). Of the patients, 35.1% had

sensorineural

> (SN), 24.3% had conductive loss, and 10.8% had a mixed type

of hearing loss.

> The hearing loss was positively correlated to the Steinbrocker

functional

> index. The prevalence of abnormal tympanograms was 37.8%,

while it was 17.1%

> in the control group. The probable site of involvement

responsible for the

> SN loss was the cochlea, and discontinuity of the ossicles,

rather than

> stiffness, was responsible for the conductive hearing loss. The

presence of

> a mixed type of hearing loss suggested a multifocal

involvement of the

> audiologic system in RA.

>

> PMID: 12120906

>

>

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=

PubMed & list_uids=12120906 & dopt=Abstract

>

> ********************************

>

>

>

> Not an MD

>

> I'll tell you where to go!

>

> Mayo Clinic in Rochester

> http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

>

> s Hopkins Medicine

> http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

>

>

> [ ] Still in this group; unanswered

questions

>

>

> > Hi,

> > I saw my neurologist today, and she said my walking

problem is

> > arthritis. The MRA was fine, but she didn't mention the " tiny

little

> > stroke " and I am kicking myself for not pressing the point. I

> > called my Primary, and I asked her assistant about my

hearing

> > loss. He said it might be from the arthritis, and I asked how I

> > could have arthritis in the ear. He said there are small bones

in

> > the ear and that these can be affected.

> >

> > I'm going to look this up. Arthritis of the ear? Well, anything's

> > possible. I'm getting a referral for physical therapy, gait

training,

> > and a referral for a nutritionist.

> >

> > So, more questions. Working at home gives me an

advantage,

> > here. I can call or be called anytime during the day.

>