A 46-year-old white male diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and antiphospholipid
syndrome (APS) was seen for audiological testing 15 minutes following a sudden onset
hearing loss in the right ear. The test battery included pure-tone audiometry, word-recognition
testing, speech-recognition threshold (SRT) testing, immittance testing, and distortion-product
otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE) testing. Testing revealed a sensorineural hearing loss
in the right ear. Shortly after testing, the patient indicated that his condition
had improved. Testing was repeated, and the second round of tests revealed normal
hearing in both ears. Four days later, a follow-up test again indicated normal hearing
in both ears. Possible connections of this brief occurrence of idiopathic hearing
loss with the patient's medical conditions are discussed. Specifically, symptoms were
consistent with a transient ischemic attack (TIA) affecting his right cochlea in the
stria vascularis region, resulting in a temporary, sensorineural hearing loss. No
residual effects were observed clinically.
Key Words
Antiphospholipid antibody disorder - antiphospholipid syndrome - sensorineural hearing
loss - systemic lupus erythematosus
