Comparison of Hearing Loss in Patients with Acute and Chronic Rhino Sinusitis

Abstract

Background: Hearing loss is a potentially underrecognized consequence of rhinosinusitis, arising primarily through Eustachian tube dysfunction and middle ear involvement. While the association is biologically plausible, the extent and type of hearing loss across acute and chronic rhinosinusitis subtypes remain insufficiently clarified in clinical literature. Objective: To compare the prevalence, type, and severity of hearing loss among patients with acute and chronic rhinosinusitis and examine the distribution of auditory impairment across age groups. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted at the Teaching Hospital, University of Lahore, over six months. A total of 204 adults aged 18–45 years, diagnosed with either acute (n=102) or chronic (n=102) rhinosinusitis, were recruited. Participants underwent audiological assessment via pure-tone audiometry and tympanometry. Hearing loss was categorized by type and degree according to WHO criteria. Statistical analysis included chi-square tests and odds ratios, with significance set at p<0.05. Results: Hearing loss was observed in 2 (1.96%) acute and 5 (4.9%) chronic rhinosinusitis patients (OR: 2.57, 95% CI: 0.49–13.41; p=0.249). Conductive hearing loss predominated, while sensorineural loss was rare (0.98%). All cases of hearing loss in the chronic group occurred among individuals aged 18–30 years, suggesting an age-dependent trend. Conclusion: Chronic rhinosinusitis is associated with a higher, though statistically nonsignificant, prevalence of hearing loss, especially in younger adults. These findings support early audiological evaluation in chronic cases