Title : Auditory disturbances and childhood vasovagal syncope
Abstract:
Objective: Literature on auditory disturbance and vasovagal syncope is sparse. Hence, our aim was to examine the auditory disturbances (ADS) during attacks of vasovagal syncope among healthy children and adolescents.
Methods: In this retrospective observational hospital-based study, we analysed data obtained from 112 children and adolescents with vasovagal syncope (VVS) who were referred to our local clinic between 2017–2024. All patients fulfilled the study eligibility. Information about ADS during attacks of VVS was directly obtained from the patients and witnesses of the attacks of VVS.
Results: 18/112 (16%) patients reported ADS during the attacks of VVS. Of these, there were 11 (61%) females, and their age ranges between 5.5 and 16.7 years (average = 13.5). In addition to ADS, patients experienced between 3 to 5 other non-auditory symptoms and signs during the prodromal phase of VVS. ADS were muffled hearing (n =11; 61%); tinnitus (n = 6; 33%), hearing loss (n = 6; 33%) and hyperacusis (n = 1; 5.5%). Most ADS were bilateral apart from one patient who suffered right sided tinnitus. All patients experienced ADS during prodromal phase except one who had tinnitus throughout the prodromal phase but muffled hearing in the postictal period.
Conclusion: The intricate relationship between auditory function and VVS represents a fascinating intersection of sensory processing and neural activity and this might be crucial for both diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic intervention. Further study of the pathophysiology of patients with VVS in the presence and absence of ADS is needed to expand our knowledge of this common condition.
