Clinic of a tertiary referral hospital in Pretoria, South Africa were included through convenience sampling. Patients were interviewed, medical files were reviewed and clinical examinations, including otoscopy, tympanometry, pure tone audiometry and distortion product oto-acoustic emissions, were conducted. An age, gender, working-environment and race-matched control group were compiled and hearing loss prevalence were compared.Results: Tinnitus (26%), vertigo (25%) hearing loss (27.5%), otalgia (19%) and ear canal pruritis (38%) were prevalent self-reported symptoms. Abnormalities in otoscopy, tympanometry and otoacoustic emissions were evident in 55, 41 and 44% of patients respectively. Pure tone average (PTA) hearing loss >25 dBHL was evident in 14% of patients and 39% for hearing loss >15 dBHL (PTA). An increase in self reported vertigo, self reported hearing loss, OAE abnormalities and hearing loss (PTA>15dBHL and PTA>25dBHL) was seen with disease progression but was not statistically significant. A significant increase (p<.05) in sensorineural hearing loss was evident with disease progression. Significant differences were found between the average thresholds in the test and control group throughout the frequency spectrum.Conclusions: Auditory and otological symptoms are common in patients with HIV with a general increase of symptoms, especially sensorineural hearing loss, towards advanced stages of disease progression.

Introduction: Disorders of the auditory and vestibular system are often associated with human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. However, the extent and nature of these vestibular manifestations are unclear.Objective: To systematically review the current peer-reviewed literature on vestibular manifestations and pathology related to human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.Method: Systematic review of peer-reviewed articles related to vestibular findings in individuals with human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Several electronic databases were searched.Results: We identified 442 records, reduced to 210 after excluding duplicates and reviews. These were reviewed for relevance to the scope of the study.Discussion: We identified only 13 reports investigating vestibular functioning and pathology in individuals affected by human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. This condition can affect both the peripheral and central vestibular system, irrespective of age and viral disease stage. Peripheral vestibular involvement may affect up to 50 per cent of patients, and central vestibular involvement may be even more prevalent. Post-mortem studies suggest direct involvement of the entire vestibular system, while opportunistic infections such as oto-and neurosyphilis and encephalitis cause secondary vestibular dysfunction resulting in vertigo, dizziness and imbalance.Conclusion: Patients with human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome should routinely be monitored for vestibular involvement, to minimise functional limitations of quality of life.

Objective HIV/AIDS is responsible for widespread clinical manifestations involving the head, and neck. The prevalence and nature of vestibular involvement is still largely unknown. This study, aimed to describe and compare the occurrence and nature of vestibular involvement among a group of, adults infected with HIV compared to a control group. It also aimed to compare the vestibular function, of symptomatic and asymptomatic HIV positive adults who receive antiretroviral (ARV) therapies to, subjects not receiving ARV. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted on 53 adults (29 male, 24 female, aged 23-49 years, mean = 38.5, SD = 4.4) infected with HIV, compared to a control group of 38 HIV negative adults (18, male, 20 female, aged 20-49 years, mean = 36.9, SD = 8.2). A structured interview probed the subjective, perception of vestibular symptoms. Medical records were reviewed for CD4+ cell counts and the use of, ARV medication. An otologic assessment and a comprehensive vestibular assessment (bedside, assessments, vestibular evoked myogenic potentials, ocular motor and positional tests and bithermal, caloric irrigation) were conducted.

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The nose reference electrode position facilitates the detection of generally very small oVEMP responses and shows a high test-retest reliability, showing promising potential for future use in the vestibular clinic.