Evaluation of cochlear function using transient evoked otoacoustic emission in children with Familial Mediterranean Fever

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate cochlear functions in children with Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF). Methods: Fifty-six FMF patients (112 ears) and 30 healthy control subjects (60 ears) were included in the study. Transient evoked otoacoustic emission (TEOAE) was investigated. Numerical measurements of TEOAE, except the correlation percentage (%), included response amplitude (dB) and signal/noise (SN) ratio. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in age and sex in the two groups. Mean TEOAE correlation percentage, signal/noise ratio, TEOAE amplitudes in 1, 1.5, 2, 3 and 4 Hz frequency values were not different between the two groups (p > 0.05). Conclusions: In this study using the TEOAE test, we found that FMF did not cause outer cell hair damage in children. In the literature, there is no study on outer cell hair damage in children or adults with FMF, so this is the first investigational study. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.