Auditory Function in the Pediatric HIV/AIDS Cohort Study Adolescent Master Protocol Up Young Adults: A Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND

To collect and compare selected hearing measures in a pilot study of young adults with perinatally acquired HIV (YAPHIV) and those with perinatal HIV exposure who are uninfected young adults with PHEU (YAPHEU).

SETTING

Cross-sectional hearing measures in YAPHIV and YAPHEU enrolled in the Pediatric HIV/AIDS Cohort Study Adolescent Master Protocol (AMP) for Participants 18 Years of Age and Older (AMP Up).

METHODS

Pure-tone air conduction audiometry and distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) data were collected in 1 visit. A low-frequency pure-tone average (PTA) (LFPTA, at 0.25, 0.5, 1, and 2 kHz), a speech-frequency PTA (SFPTA, at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz), and a high-frequency PTA (HFPTA, at 3, 4, 6, and 8 kHz) were calculated. Hearing loss was defined as worse ear SFPTA of ≥20 dB HL. Separate linear regression models were fit for worse ear LFPTA, SFPTA, and HFPTA to assess associations with PHIV status. DPOAE signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) were obtained at 3 frequencies in each ear.

RESULTS

Forty-seven YAPHIV and 9 YAPHEU completed hearing testing. All adjusted mean PTAs were similar between YAPHIV and YAPHEU. Hearing loss occurred more in YAPHIV (7/47, 15.2%; 95% CI: 6.3%-28.9%), compared with YAPHEU (0/9, 0%). No associations were detected between HIV disease severity measures and worse ear SFPTA. DPOAE SNRs were similar between YAPHIV and YAPHEU.

CONCLUSIONS

In this pilot study, peripheral hearing (ie, PTAs) and cochlear function (ie, DPOAEs) were similar between YAPHIV and YAPHEU. A larger study is warranted to confirm these findings.