Auditory Function in Sickle Cell Anemia

Abstract

Auditory acuity and central auditory processing were assessed in 22 patients with sickle cell anemia, 13 of whom were chronically transfused, and compared with a control black population. Pure tone air conduction thresholds were within normal limits for all patients, and mean Speech Reception Threshold for each ear was normal at 10 dB. All subjects exhibited type A tympanograms. Central auditory processing was assessed by the Competing Sentence Test and Binaural Fusion Test. No significant differences were found among transfused, nontransfused, and control patients. Abnormal auditory function does not appear to be a common problem in patients with sickle cell disease.