Evaluation of the Medial Olivocochlear Reflex System in Epilepsy Patients Epilepsi Hastalarında Mediyal Olivokoklear Refleks Sisteminin Değerlendirilmesi
Journal of Ear Nose Throat and Head Neck Surgery, cilt.34, sa.1, ss.1-7, 2026 (Scopus, TRDizin)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 34 Sayı: 1
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.24179/kbbbbc.2025-110515
- Dergi Adı: Journal of Ear Nose Throat and Head Neck Surgery
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Scopus, TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM)
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.1-7
- Anahtar Kelimeler: audiology, Epilepsy, otoacoustic emission
- Açık Arşiv Koleksiyonu: AVESİS Açık Erişim Koleksiyonu
- Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Objective: Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder characterized by recurrent convulsive and non-convulsive seizures. The olivocochlear system plays a key role in the efferent regulation of the auditory input. This study aimed to evaluate the functional status of the medial olivocochlear (MOC) efferent system in individuals with epilepsy. Material and Methods: Thirty-four patients aged 19-59 years diagnosed with epilepsy and 32 healthy controls aged 24-48 years were included. All participants underwent otorhinolaryngologic examination, pure-tone audiometry, transient evoked otoacoustic emission (TEOAE) measurements at 1,000, 1,500, 2,000, 3,000, and 4,000 Hz, and a TEOAE test with contralateral noise for evaluation of the MOC reflex. Results: When the TEOAE test results were evaluated in both ears between the patient and control groups, significant differences were observed at all frequencies (1,000, 1,500, 2,000, 3,000, and 4,000 Hz) (p<0.05). TEOAE values were found to be lower than normal in the epilepsy group. Additionally, TEOAE and contralateral noisy TEOAE tests (MOC reflex assessment tests) were compared. When the results were evaluated, the differences at frequencies 1,000, 1,500, and 2,000 in the right ear were found to be significantly lower in the epilepsy group (p<0.05). Conclusion: The observed decrease in TEOAE amplitudes and partial impairment of contralateral suppression in patients with epilepsy suggest impaired efferent modulation of cochlear responses. These findings suggest that auditory efferent pathways, particularly the MOC system, can be affected by epileptic neuronal dysfunction and may contribute to deficits in auditory processing among affected individuals.