Hearing loss and Celiac Disease

[mle_ii]

This was rather interesting. Didn't know there was such a significant number of folks with CD affected.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1785 ... stractPlus
Coeliac disease and hearing loss: preliminary data on a new possible association.

OBJECTIVE: Coeliac disease (CD), an autoimmune gluten-dependent enteropathy, can be associated with several extra-intestinal manifestations, including neurological disorders. At present, no data are available on the presence of hearing loss disorder in coeliac patients. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of hearing loss in coeliac patients compared with that in healthy controls. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-four adult coeliac patients and 24 healthy subjects matched for gender, age, smoking and drinking habits were enrolled in the study. Among the coeliac patients, 6 were newly diagnosed and 18 patients were on a gluten-free diet for at least one year. RESULTS: A hearing loss was found in 10 (47.1%) coeliac patients and 2 (9.1%) healthy controls. All CD patients with hearing loss presented a sensorineural hearing loss. The prevalence of hearing loss was significantly higher in coeliac patients than in healthy controls (p = 0.01) but it was not significantly different between untreated (33.3%) and treated (44.4%) coeliac patients (p: NS). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the low number of subjects evaluated, the present study showed a higher prevalence of hearing loss in coeliac patients than in healthy controls, suggesting an association between CD and hearing loss. Immunological processes such as ear-specific and non-specific autoantibodies and vasculitis could be the basis of this association. Further longitudinal investigations on a larger sample size will be necessary to confirm the present data.

[tex]

Mike,

Didn't Joanna mention that her vision had improved after she had been on the diet for a while, (or was it her hearing)? I have a hunch, that if all the senses were carefully monitored, it would become clear that gluten reactions negatively affect virtually every organ in the body. In fact, though I'm not aware that quantitative measurements have been documented, isn't it often stated that the leaky gut syndrome affects every organ in the body?

The article claims that the incidence of hearing loss was in fact higher in treated celiacs, than in untreated celiacs, (44.4% compared with 33.3%. I find that hard to accept, from a logical standpoint, especially in view of the fact that virtually all other gluten-associated symptoms normally disappear with treatment, (for all but a few unresponsive individuals). Most likely, the average age of their treated cohort was higher than the average age of the untreated cohort, or some other factor confounded those test results. Otherwise, it's not a surprising finding.

Tex

[mle_ii]

Yes, indeed. It could very well be related to a leaky gut or even malabsorbtion of nutrients needed for hearing or other senses.

I found that odd as well. My first thought that it may be because it is irreversable damage, or perhaps those who who are not treated are eating something (hell it could be something in the grains) that still somewhat limits the damage, or as you said an age difference. Don't have the study though I'm sure I could get it.