Abstract
BACKGROUND: Melanocytes in the hair and melanocytes in the stria vascularis of the inner ear have common origins. Many congenital and acquired disorders of cutaneous pigmentation have auditory abnormalities. There is a paucity of studies on the auditory associations of early graying. AIM AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to determine the association between early graying and auditory system abnormalities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional analytical study was done on 100 patients with early graying and 100 controls. Pure tone audiometry was done at 0.25 to 4 kHz for bone conduction, conventional and high frequencies from 0.25 to 8 kHz for air conduction, and extended high frequencies from 9 kHz to 20 kHz for air conduction in both ears. RESULTS: Bilateral hearing loss >25 dB was present in three patients with early graying based on the four-frequency average of 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz. Patients with early graying had significantly higher thresholds for hearing except at 0.25 kHz in the right ears and 0.25, 2, 10, and 11 kHz in the left ears. LIMITATIONS: We did not assess cochlear function with otoacoustic emissions, and our study design did not allow us to assess causality and temporal association. CONCLUSION: Our study found that early graying may be a visible marker of changes in auditory thresholds. Patients with early graying need periodic auditory evaluations and health education to prevent further hearing loss.