Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-ndw9j Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-14T07:24:07.355Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Auditory neuropathy in a patient exposed to xylene: case report

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 April 2008

T H J Draper  and
D-E Bamiou
T H J Draper*
Affiliation:
Audiology Department, Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton
D-E Bamiou
Affiliation:
Neuro-otology Department, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Miss Tracy H J Draper, Audiology Department, Royal Sussex County Hospital, Eastern Road, Brighton BN2 5BE, UK. Fax: 01273664806 E-mail: tracy.draper@bsuh.nhs.uk
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objective:

To report the case of an adult patient who developed auditory complaints following xylene exposure, and to review the literature on the effects of solvent exposure on hearing.

Case report:

The patient presented with a gradual deterioration in his ability to hear in difficult acoustic environments and also to hear complex sounds such as music, over a 40-year period. His symptoms began following exposure to the solvent xylene, and in the absence of any other risk factor. Our audiological investigations revealed normal otoacoustic emissions with absent auditory brainstem responses and absent acoustic reflexes in both ears, consistent with a diagnosis of bilateral auditory neuropathy. Central test results were also abnormal, indicating possible involvement of the central auditory pathway.

Conclusions:

To our knowledge, this is the first report of retrocochlear hearing loss following xylene exposure. The test results may provide some insight into the effect of xylene as an isolated agent on the human auditory pathway.

Keywords

Auditory NeuropathyHearingXyleneSolvent Exposure
Type
Clinical Records
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 123 , Issue 4 , April 2009 , pp. 462 - 465
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2008

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1 Dick, FD. Solvent neurotoxicity. Occup Environ Med 2006;63:221–6Google Scholar
2 Mosche, S, Bitchatchi, E, Goshen, J, Attis, J. Neuropathy in an artist exposed to organic solvents in paints: a case study. Arch Environ Health 2002;57:127–9Google Scholar
3 Sliwinska-Kowalska, M, Zamyslowska-Szmytke, E, Szymczak, W, Kotylo, P, Fiszer, M, Dudarewicz, A et al. Hearing loss among workers exposed to moderate concentration of solvents. Scand J Work Environ Health 2001;27:335–42CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4 Jacobsen, P, Hein, HO, Suadicani, P, Parving, A, Gyntelberg, F. Mixed solvent exposure and hearing impairment: an epidemiological study of 3284 men. The Copenhagen male study. Occup Med 1993;43:180–4CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5 Morata, TC, Dunn, DE, Kretschmer, LW, Lemasters, GK, Keith, RW. Effects of occupational exposure to organic solvents and noise on hearing. Scand J Work Environ Health 1993;19:245–54Google Scholar
6 Metrick, SA, Brenner, RP. Abnormal brainstem auditory evoked potentials in chronic paint sniffers. Ann Neurol 1982;12:553–6CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
7 Morata, TC, Engel, T, Durao, A, Costa, TRS, Krieg, EF, Dunn, DE et al. Hearing loss from combined exposures among petroleum refinery workers. Scand Audiol 1997;26:141–9CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
8 Odkvist, LM, Arlinger, SD, Edling, C, Larsby, B, Bergholz, LM. Audiological and vestibulo-oculomotor findings in workers exposed to solvents and jet fuel. Scand Audiol 1987;16:75–81Google Scholar
9 Moller, C, Odkvist, LM, Larsby, B, Tham, R, Ledin, T, Bergholtz, L. Otoneurological findings in workers exposed to styrene. Scand J Work Environ Health 1990;16:189–94CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10 Odkvist, LM, Bergholtz, LM, Ahlfeldt, H, Anderson, B, Edling, C, Strand, E. Otoneurological and audiological findings in workers exposed to industrial solvents. Acta Otolaryngol (Stockh) 1982;93(suppl 386):249–51Google Scholar
11 Moller, C, Odkvist, LM, Thell, J, Larsby, B, Hyden, D, Bergoltz, L et al. Otoneurological findings in psycho-organic syndrome caused by industrial solvent exposure. Acta Otolaryngol (Stockh) 1989;107:5–12CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
12 Niklasson, M, Arlinger, S, Ledin, T, Moller, C, Odkvist, L, Flodin, U et al. Audiological disturbances caused by long-term exposure to industrial solvents. Relation to the diagnosis of toxic encephalopathy. Scand Audiol 1998;27:131–6Google Scholar
13 Abbate, C, Giorgianni, C, Munano, F, Brecciaroli, R. Neurotoxicity induced by exposure to toluene. An electrophysiological study. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 1993;64:389–92Google Scholar
14 Pryor, GT, Rebert, CS, Howd, RA. Hearing loss in rats caused by inhalation of mixed xylenes and styrene. J Appl Toxicol 1987;7:55–61CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
15 Madden, C, Rutter, M, Hilbert, L Greinwald, JH Jr, Choo, DI. Clinical and audiological features in auditory neuropathy. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2002;128:1026–30CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
16 Starr, A, Picton, T, Kim, R. Pathophysiology of auditory neuropathy. In: Sininger, Y, Starr, A, eds. Auditory Neuropathy: a New Perspective on Hearing Disorders. San Diego: Singular Publishing, 2001;67–82Google Scholar
17 Dubno, J, Lee, F, Klein, A, Matthews, LJ, Lam, CF. Confidence limits for maximum word-recognition scores. J Speech Hear Res 1995;38:490–502Google Scholar
18 Musiek, FE, Shinn, JB, Jirsa, R, Bamiou, D, Baran, JA, Elena, J. GIN (Gaps in Noise) test performance in subjects with confirmed central auditory nervous system involvement. Ear Hear 2005;26:608–18Google Scholar
19 Musiek, FE. Frequency (pitch) and duration pattern tests. J Am Acad Audiol 1994;5:265–8Google Scholar
20 Rance, G, Aud, D. Auditory neuropathy/dys-synchrony and its perceptual consequences. Trends in Amplification 2005;9:1–43CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
21 Zeng, F, Oba, S, Garde, S, Yvonne, S, Starr, A. Temporal and speech processing deficits in auditory neuropathy. Neuroreport 1999;10:3429–35CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed