Assessment of Hearing Impairment in Oral Submucous Fibrosis – A Tympanometric and Audiometric Study

Background: Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is a potentially malignant complex disorder involving the oral mucosa. Etiology is multi-factorial, but the main causative agent is chewing of arecanut. Atrophic changes of para tubal muscles leads to eustachian tube dysfunction, leading to loss of hearing. Objective: With this background, the study was undertaken to assess impairment in hearing in OSMF using tympanometry and audiometry. Materials and Methods: A total of 40 subjects were selected between 20 and 50 years of age group inclusive of both genders, of which 10 subjects were healthy and 30 subjects with OSMF were enrolled. Subjects were assessed for function of eustachian tube and hearing levels by tympanometry and audiometry, and the data were subjected to statistical analysis using “R” software package. The statistical methods used were Chi-square test and one-way analysis of variance. Results: In group 1 (controls), we found that all subjects had normal tympanograms, eustachian tube functions, and hearing levels. In group II (OSMF), the number of subjects with abnormal tympanograms, eustachian tube dysfunction, and severity of hearing loss increased with severity of OSMF. Conclusion: The severity of hearing impairment increased with the severity of OSMF. Therefore, we strongly recommend that all cases of OSMF be referred to the concerned specialist for evaluation of hearing.