The Effect of Citalopram Versus a Placebo on Central Auditory Processing in the Elderly.

OBJECTIVE

Evaluate the effects of therapy with citalopram on the central auditory processing in the elderly measured by central auditory tests.

STUDY

DESIGN

Prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

SETTING

Tertiary referral center.

PATIENTS: Thirty-nine patients older than 60 years with normal hearing thresholds or symmetrical sensorineural hearing loss up to 70 dBHL, word-recognition score equal to or better than 70%, and diagnosed with central auditory processing disorders completed the study. They underwent the mini-mental state examination, as a way to screen those with the possibility of dementia; they also underwent the Beck depression inventory, for screening individuals with depression.

INTERVENTION: Citalopram 20 mg/d or placebo for 6 months.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The central auditory tests were applied to the selection of individuals with auditory processing disorders and repeated after 6 months' treatment. The tests were sound localization, speech in noise, dichotic digits test, pitch pattern sequence, duration pattern test, and gaps-in-noise.

RESULTS

Comparisons of central auditory tests pre- and posttreatment in groups showed: sound localization (p = 0.022), pitch pattern sequence humming (p = 0.110), pitch pattern sequence nomination (p = 0.355), duration pattern test humming (p = 0.801), duration pattern test nomination (p = 0.614), and gaps-in-noise (p = 0.230). Dichotic tests in right and left ears respectively: speech in noise (p = 0.949; p = 0.722), dichotic digits test (p = 0.943; p = 0.513).

CONCLUSION

There was no clinical effect with the use of citalopram in central auditory processing tests of the subjects.