Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials to Different Stimulus Rates in Parkinsonian Patients

Abstract

Twenty-five Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients were studied by brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP) with increased stimulus rate (ISR) and compared to a control age and hearing matched group. A second comparison was made between L-dopa-treated and untreated PD patients. The results of the study suggest that there is subclinical involvement of the auditory brainstem in PD patients, possibly due to the dopamine influence upon the blood vessels. Our results also indicate that dopamine is probably not involved in the synaptic transmission along the auditory pathway of the brainstem.

An investigation of hearing impairment in de-novo Parkinson's disease patients: A preliminary study

“…Pathophysiological mechanisms underlying this hearing impairment are unclear, because contrasting results have been reported in previous studies [2]. A preferential impairment of pure-tones perception has been observed, suggesting a peripheral involvement as the basis of hearing loss in PD [1].…”

Evoked potential changes in patients with Parkinson's disease

“…Podoshin, Ben‐David, Fradis, and Pratt (1987) and Fradis et al. Fradis et al., (1988) found no significant differences of BAEP between patients with PD under dopaminergic drugs treatments and those without treatment. Our study found no significant correlation between EP and dopa dose.…”

The impact of deep brain stimulation on tinnitus

“…Despite the fact that some studies reported an abnormal hearing in PD and ET patients,[203032] other studies reported normal hearing in these patients. [3721] To our knowledge, a correlation of PD/ET with tinnitus has never been reported. Hence, the control group seems to be appropriate for this study to compare the course of time with the DBS group.…”