Evaluation of inner ear and hearing functions in lichen planus patients

Background Lichen planus (LP), which affects skin, nails, hair, and mucosal surfaces, is a chronic, autoimmune, and inflammatory disease, and autoimmune diseases may affect the inner ear. Aims This study aims to investigate hearing and inner ear functions of the LP patients. Patients/Methods The present study was formed by 49 patients who were clinically and histopathologically diagnosed with LP and did not receive any treatment. The healthy group consisted of 52 healthy individuals. Pure tone audiometry (PTA) and distortion product otoacoustic emission tests were used in the hearing evaluation. Results At frequencies of 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 kHz in the right ear and 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 kHz in the left ear in PTA, the lichen group's hearing thresholds were higher than the healthy group's. Upon comparing the hearing thresholds of LP patients with oral mucosa involvement and LP patients without oral mucosa involvement, there were significant differences between the groups at 1, 4, and 8 kHz in the right ear and at 0.25, 0.5, 2, 4, 6, and 8 kHz in the left ear. Conclusion Because of the increasing hearing thresholds, we think that hearing and inner ear functions of LP patients, particularly with oral mucosal involvement, are negatively affected.