The importance of central auditory evaluation in Friedreich's ataxia

ABSTRACT

Objective To assess central auditory function in Friedreich's ataxia.

Methods A cross-sectional, retrospective study was carried out. Thirty patients underwent the anamnesis, otorhinolaryngology examination, pure tone audiometry, acoustic immittance measures and brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAEP) assessments.

Results The observed alterations were: 43.3% in the pure tone audiometry, bilateral in 36.7%; 56.6% in the BAEP test, bilateral in 50%; and 46.6% in the acoustic immittance test. There was a significant difference (p < 0.05) in the comparison between the tests performed.

Conclusion In the audiological screening, there was a prevalence of the descending audiometric configuration at the frequency of 4kHz, and absence of the acoustic reflex at the same frequency. In the BAEP test, there was a prevalence of an increase of the latencies in waves I, III and V, and in the intervals of interpeaks I-III, I-V and III-V. In 13.3% of the patients, wave V was absent, and all waves were absent in 3.3% of patients.

RESUMO

Objetivo Avaliar a função auditiva central na ataxia de Friedreich (AFRD).

Métodos Foi realizado um estudo retrospectivo de corte transversal. 30 pacientes realizaram anamnese, avaliações otorrinolaringológica, audiológica, imitanciométrica e do potencial evocado auditivo de tronco encefálico (PEATE).

Resultados As alterações observadas foram: 43,3% no exame audiométrico sendo 36,7% dos casos, bilateralmente; 56,6% na avaliação do PEATE com 50% dos casos, bilateralmente e 46,6% no exame imitanciométrico. Houve diferença significativa (p < 0,05) na comparação entre os exames realizados.

Conclusão No exame audiológico, ocorreu uma preponderância maior da configuração audiométrica descendente a partir da freqüência de 4kHz e ausência do reflexo acústico na mesma frequência. No exame do PEATE, houve prevalência do aumento das latências nas ondas I, III e V, e nos intervalos dos interpicos I-III, I-V e III-V. Em 13,3% dos casos, a onda V estava ausente, e em 3,3% dos casos, todas as ondas estavam ausentes.

Keywords

spinocerebellar degenerations - hearing disorders - Friedreich ataxia - evoked potentials, auditory - ataxic gait

Palavras-chave

degenerações espinocerebelares - transtornos da audição - ataxia de Friedreich - potenciais evocados auditivos - marcha atáxica

Hereditary ataxias take up about 10% of genetic diseases affecting the nervous system. Their classification is made according to their etiopathogenesis. Among them, Friedreich's ataxia, which was initially described by Nicholas Friedreich, stands out. It is a progressive neurodegenerative disease with recessive autosomal inheritance and early onset in most cases[1],[2],[3].

The mutation responsible for this disease is found in chromosome 9, where the GAA triplet repeat expansion in the FXN gene occurs[4]. The affected gene encodes the mitochondrial protein, frataxin, involved in iron metabolism[2],[3],[4]. The deficit of that protein causes iron accumulation within the mitochondria, thus impairing the respiratory chain[2],[3],[4],[5].

The first symptoms are usually observed in childhood or early adolescence. However, in some cases, it can be diagnosed before two or after 20 years of age. The main characteristics of this disease are: ataxia (impaired coordination), initially in the lower limbs and subsequently in the upper limbs; absence of tendon reflexes and weakness of lower limbs; dysarthria; loss of deep distal sensitivity; and bilateral Babinski signs. Studies on neural conduction have shown sensitive axonal neuropathy[4],[5],[6]. Other features may be associated with the main symptoms, such as: nystagmus, optical atrophy, hearing loss (may be present), hand atrophy and distal atrophy in the lower limbs, scoliosis, pes cavus and claw-toe deformity[2],[3],[4],[5],[6]. Diabetes may be present in 10% of the patients, and cardiomyopathy may occur in about two-thirds of the patients, whichis the main cause of mortality[6],[7]. There are significant differences in the lifespan of affected individuals, which tends to be around four decades from the disease onset until death[4],[5],[8].

Screening of the peripheral and central auditory system is carried out by means of behavioral, acoustic-electric and electrophysiological assessment methods.

The brain is responsible for speech processing, beginning in the cochlea, where mechanical activity turns into nerve impulses. From the neurophysiological point of view, hearing entails a complex system, comprising a peripheral and a central part (cortical and subcortical structures). Whenever there is a physical dysfunction, a deficit in speech recognition skills occurs. Sound perception is performed by the central activity, and sound sensation is generated by the peripheral activities. While the peripheral auditory system receives and analyzes environmental auditory stimuli, the brain analyzes inner representations of acoustic stimuli[9].

The effects caused by degenerative processes may involve the central auditory system, and disorders occur due to changes that directly affect brain mechanisms that process auditory information[10].

In the past decades, a growing number of research studies, involving auditory function in neurodegenerative diseases, has been reported. Biacabe et al.[11] state that the most evidenced auditory dysfunctions in neurodegenerative diseases have been observed in the brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAEP) testing, and usually occur in the inferior colliculus, lateral lemniscus and cochlear nuclei.

The current study assessed the auditory function in patients suffering from Friedreich's ataxia.

METHODS

This study was approved by the Institutional Ethics Board, Brazil Platform, opinion n°. 832.502/2014, and was authorized by patients after signing the Free Informed Consent Form.

A cross-sectional, retrospective study was carried out. Thirty (30) patients (10 females and 20 males), diagnosed with Friedreich's ataxia, were referred by the Department of Internal Medicine of the Hospital de Clinicas for assessment in the Department of Otoneurology of a teaching institution in the samecity. An ataxia diagnosis was reached by means of genetic testing using the polymerase chain reaction technique[12],[13]. In order to measure the severity of the cerebellar ataxia in an easier and more practical way, Schmitz-Hübsch et al.[14] propose a scale for the assessment and rating of ataxia – SARA-translated and validated in Brazilian Portuguese by Braga-Neto et al.[15]. SARA has eight items that yield a total score of 0 (no ataxia) to 40 (most severe ataxia); 1: gait (score 0 to 8), 2: stance (score 0 to 6), 3: sitting (score 0 to 4), 4: speech disturbance (score 0 to 6), 5: finger chase (score 0 to 4), 6: nose-finger test (score 0 to 4), 7: fast alternating hand movements (score 0 to 4), 8: heel-shin slide (score 0 to 4). Limb-kinetic functions (items 5 to 8) are rated independently for both sides, and the arithmetic mean of both sides is included in the SARA total score[15]. This scale has proven to be valid and reliable in patients with ataxia.

The patients' ages ranged from six to 72 years, with a mean age of 38.7 years, and standard deviation of 17.7 years. Disease duration was between three and 42 years, with a mean duration of 14.7 years and standard deviation of 9.4 years ([Table 1]).

Table 1 Summary of patient demographics.

P	Age(y) and Sex	Disease duration (y)	SARA
1	43/M	25	20
2	41/M	7	3.5
3	30/F	18	8
4	24/M	8	4
5	29/M	13	14
6	17/M	3	13
7	63/F	38	7
8	6/F	5	19
9	37/F	19	16
10	41/F	20	29.5
11	27/F	12	14
12	25/F	12	12
13	55/F	30	7
14	44/M	10	3.5
15	55/M	12	14
16	37/M	17	19
17	51/M	30	29
18	27/M	10	16
19	46/M	18	10
20	72/M	42	28
21	52/F	18	3
22	30/M	4	4.5
23	37/M	19	18
24	44/M	18	9.5
25	22/M	14	5
26	42/F	31	25
27	63/M	18	19
28	42/M	21	8
29	28/M	21	8
30	30/M	17	13

M: male; F: female; SARA: scale for the assessment andrating of ataxia.

Patients excluded from the research had otologic disorders or other abnormalities that prevented them from undergoing the examinations. Seven (7) patients were excluded from the study (three of them died and four refused to participate in the research). Audiological assessments were carried out in a single session, which lasted an average of 50 minutes.

The patients were submitted to the following procedures: Anamnesis: Patients answered a questionnaire with emphasis on otoneurological signs and symptoms.

Otorhinolaryngology examination: Performed with the objective of excluding any other disorders that could interfere with the examination.

Pure tone audiometry: Patients were submitted to pure tone air conduction threshold audiometry at frequencies from 250Hz to 8kHz; pure tone bone conduction threshold audiometry at frequencies from 500Hz to 4kHz, speech recognition threshold and speech discrimination tests. For those tests, the Madsen Itera audiometer – GN Optometrics, with TDH-39 headphones from GN-ReSound, was used and hearing level (HL) thresholds were measured indB. The equipment was calibrated according to ISO 8253. The levels and types of hearing loss were analyzed according to Davis et Silverman[16].

Brainstem auditory evoked potential: This test used two channels with a click stimulus at 90dBHL, alternate polarity with a presentation frequency of 21.1 cycles per second, window of 15ms, 30 Hz to 3kHz filter and at least 2,000 stimuli, and two rounds of repetition. Kendall Med trace 2000 electrodes were placed on the right and left mastoids, as well as on the Fz position (10-20 system), and ground electrodes on the forehead. Clicks were presented via 3A insert earphones. Wave latencies I, III and V and interpeak intervals I-III, III-V, I-V were analyzed according to Hall's criteria[17]. These waves represent structures of the auditory pathway, having the following generator sites: wave I – distal portion of the cochlear nerve; wave II – proximal portion of the cochlear nerve; wave III – generated in the cochlear nucleus; wave IV – superior olivary complex; wave V – lateral lemniscus; wave VI – inferior colliculus; and wave VII: medial geniculate body. In this study, latency values of waves I, III and V were used, as well as their interpeak latencies I-III, III-V and I-V The choice of those three waves was because they feature greater amplitude and stability. In patients with hearing loss, it was necessary to increase the intensity of the click stimulus to 100 dBHL. The equipment used was Bio-logic's Evoked Potential System.

Acoustic immittance evaluation: This procedure was done to assess the integrity of the middle ear according to Jerger's criteria[18]. The immittance equipment used was the Madsen OTO flex tympanometer, with TDH 39P earphones by GN-ReSound.

Statistical analysis

Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to correlate age, disease duration and the SARA scale; the two-proportion z-test was used to determinedifferences in proportion for symptoms analysis; and Fisher's exact test was carried out to compare the results of the audiological examinations, the BAEP and the measure of acoustic immittance (analyzing normal and abnormal results). Statistica 13.1 software was used, and the null hypothesis was rejected at 0.05 or 5%.

RESULTS

By correlating age, disease durationand the result of the SARA scale, Pearson's correlation coefficient was significant in the correlation between disease duration and age (p = *0.0000), and in the correlation betweendisease duration and the SARA scale (p = *0.0022) ([Table 2]).

Table 2 Correlation between age, disease duration and SARA.

Correlation	Pearson's coefficient correlation (r)	p
Age and disease duration	0.7171	*0.0000
Age and SARA	0.1911	0.0312
Disease duration and SARA	0.4169	*0.0022

SARA: scale for the assessment and rating of ataxia. *Significant comparison; p-values for Pearson's coefficient correlation shown.

The most reported complaints in the anamnesis were: uncoordinated movement (66.7%), gait imbalance (56.7%), and dizziness (50%). Hearing loss occurred in 10% of the patients ([Table 3]).

Table 3 Symptoms in 30 patients with Friedreich's ataxia.

Symptoms	N. patients	Frequency (%)
Incoordination of movement	20	66.7
Gaitimbalance	17	56.7
Dizziness	15	50.0
Dysarthria	14	46.7
Headache	10	33.4
Dysphagia	9	30.0
Diplopia	9	30.0
Falling	8	26.7
Tremor	8	26.7
Depression	8	26.7
Fatigue	7	23.4
Anxiety	7	23.4
Pain, difficulty in neck movement	6	20.0
Tingling in extremities	4	13.4
Insomnia	3	10.0
Hearingloss	3	10.0
Olfactory alteration	2	6.7
Gustatory alteration	2	6.7
Dysphonia	1	3.4

In the two-proportion z-test, in orderto determinedifference in proportions, there were significant differences for the symptoms of uncoordinated movement (p < *0.0010), gait imbalance (p < *0.0370) and dizziness (p < *0.0330) in relation to the other reported symptoms.

In the audiological assessment, 13/30 patients (43.3%) hadhearing alterations:3.3% in the right ear only, 3.3% in the left ear only, and 36.7% bilaterally ([Table 4]).

Table 4 Summary of each patient's audiological and BAEP results.

Patient	Audiology assessment		BAEP
	RE	LE	RE	LE
1	Normal	Normal	Abnormal	Abnormal
2	Normal	Normal	Normal	Normal
3	Normal	Normal	Abnormal	Abnormal
4	Normal	Normal	Normal	Normal
5	Sloping from 4 kHz	Sloping from 4 kHz	Abnormal	Abnormal
6	Normal	Normal	Normal	Normal
7	SNHL severe	SNHL severe	Abnormal	Abnormal
8	Normal	Normal	Normal	Normal
9	Normal	Normal	Abnormal	Abnormal
10	SNHL mild	Normal	Abnormal	Normal
11	Normal	Normal	Normal	Normal
12	Normal	Normal	Normal	Normal
13	Sloping from 3 kHz	Sloping from 3 kHz	Abnormal	Abnormal
14	Normal	Normal	Normal	Normal
15	Sloping from 2 kHz	Sloping from 2 kHz	Abnormal	Abnormal
16	Normal	Normal	Abnormal	Abnormal
17	Sloping from 2 kHz	Sloping from 2 kHz	Abnormal	Abnormal
18	Normal	SNHL severe	Normal	Abnormal
19	Normal	Normal	Abnormal	Abnormal
20	Sloping from 2 kHz	Sloping from 2 kHz	Abnormal	Abnormal
21	Sloping from 4 kHz	Sloping from 4 kHz	Abnormal	Abnormal
22	Normal	Normal	Normal	Normal
23	Sloping from 4 kHz	Sloping from 4 kHz	Normal	Normal
24	Notchat 6 kHz	Notchat 6 kHz	Abnormal	Abnormal
25	Normal	Normal	Normal	Normal
26	Sloping from 4 kHz	Sloping from 4 kHz	Abnormal	Abnormal
27	SNHL severe	SNHL moderate	Abnormal	Abnormal
28	Normal	Normal	Normal	Normal
29	Normal	Normal	Normal	Normal
30	Normal	Normal	Normal	Normal

SNHL: sensorineural hearing loss; RE: right ear; LE: left ear; Statistical findings are reported in the Results; BAEP: brainstem auditory evoked potential.

Results for the speech recognition threshold and speech recognition percentage index were comparable with the pure tone thresholds.

In the BAEP assessment, 17/30 patients (56.6%) featured alterations: 3.3% in the right ear only, 3.3% in the left ear only, and 50% bilaterally, as shown in [Table 4].

In the acoustic immittance evaluation,14/30 patients (46.6%) showed alterations in the acoustic reflex, all of which were bilateral ([Table 5]).

Table 5 Summary of each patient's acoustic immittance results.

Patient	Acoustic immittance
	Right ear		Left ear
	Tympanometry curve	Acousticreflex	Tympanometry curve	Acousticreflex
1	Type A	Absent at 3–4 kHz	Type A	Absent at 3–4 kHz
2	Type A	Present	Type A	Present
3	Type A	Absent at 4 kHz	Type A	Absent at 4 kHz
4	Type A	Present	Type A	Present
5	Type A	Absent at 4 kHz	Type A	Absent at 4 kHz
6	Type A	Present	Type A	Present
7	Type A	Absent	Type A	Absent
8	Type A	Present	Type A	Present
9	Type A	Absent at 4 kHz	Type A	Absent at 4 kHz
10	Type A	Present	Type A	Present
11	Type A	Present	Type A	Present
12	Type A	Present	Type A	Present
13	Type A	Absent at 3–4 kHz	Type A	Absent at 3–4 kHz
14	Type A	Present	Type A	Present
15	Type A	Absent at 3–4 kHz	Type A	Absent at 3–4 kHz
16	Type A	Present	Type A	Present
17	Type A	Absent at 2–4 kHz	Type A	Absent at 2–4 kHz
18	Type A	Absent at 3–4 kHz	Type As	Absent at 3–4 kHz
19	Type A	Present	Type A	Present
20	Type A	Absent at 3–4 kHz	Type A	Absent at 3–4 kHz
21	Type A	Absent at 4 kHz	Type A	Absent at 4 kHz
22	Type A	Present	Type A	Present
23	Type A	Absent at 4 kHz	Type A	Absent at 4 kHz
24	Type A	Present	Type A	Present
25	Type A	Present	Type A	Present
26	Type A	Absent at 4 kHz	Type A	Absent at 4 kHz
27	Type A	Absent	Type A	Absent
28	Type A	Present	Type A	Present
29	Type A	Present	Type A	Present
30	Type A	Present	Type A	Present

Statistical findings are reported in the results text.

The results of the audiological assessments, BAEP and acoustic immittance evaluation, regarding the proportions for normal and alterations, are shown in [Table 6].

Table 6 Distributions of audiological, BAEP and acoustic immittance test results in Friedreich's ataxia.

Variables			Normal (n)	Abnormal (n)	Total (n)	P
Audiology findings
	BAEP
		Normal	12	5	17
		Abnormal	1	12	13	*0.0007
		Total	13	17	30
	Acoustic immittance
		Normal	14	3	17
		Abnormal	-	13	13	*0.0000
		Total	14	16	30
BAEP findings, N
	Acoustic immittance
		Normal	12	1	13
		Abnormal	4	13	17	*0.0002
		Total	16	14	30

BAEP: brainstem auditory evoked potential; *Significant comparison; p values for Fisher's exacttests shown.

Fisher'sexact test showed a significant difference between the audiological evaluation and BAEP (p = *0.0007), between audiological evaluation and acoustic immittance evaluation (p = *0.0000), and between BAEP and acoustic immittance evaluation (p = *0.0002).

DISCUSSION

In the analysis of the disease duration and age variables, it was observed that the older the patient, the longer the disease duration, as most patients suffered from the disease since childhood/adolescence; and the longer the disease duration, the worse the score result on the SARA scale.

The anamnesis disclosed a prevalence of gait disorders, which were expected in spinocerebellar ataxias. Speech disorders, dizziness, dysphagia, dysphonia, and hearing loss are also described in several studies[1],[2],[3]. According to Payne[19], patients develop primary neurodegeneration in the dorsal root ganglia, which explains the loss of proprioception and coordination.

Abnormalities in the audiological evaluation were present in 43.3% of the ataxic patients. Knezevic and Stewart-Wynne[20] assessed 18 patients with spinocerebellar ataxia and observed normal hearing in all of them; however, five of the seven (71%) Friedreich's ataxia patients had abnormal BAEP results, where only wave I was identified, and 71% of the olivopontocerebellar atrophy patients had abnormal BAEP results. The results showed severe abnormalities in the brainstem auditory pathways in patients with spinocerebellar ataxia.

In the current study, 56.6% of the patients had alterations in the BAEP test, with the occurrence of latency increases in waves I, III and V and in the interpeak intervals I-III, I-V and III-V for 12/17 patients (40%); wave V was absent in 4/17 (13.3%) patients, and all waves were absent in one (3.3%) patient.

Yokoyamaet al.[21]assessed 30 patients with spinocerebellar degeneration and verified increases in latency and interpeak intervals of waves I-III and I-V; wave V was absent in 30% of the patients, and 82.5% showed altered wave ranges. Rance et al.[22] assessed two patients with audiological follow-ups for a period of three years, BAEP and central auditory processing examinations being performed periodically. The global severity of the disease in the initial assessment was equivalent in both cases. The authors showed axonopathy in the cochlear nerve in both cases. They observed hearing loss (significant neural reduction) along the course of the disease. Zeng et al.[23] showed that diseases that affect the integrity of the auditory nerve drastically impair hearing perception. In another study, Rance et al.[24] observed interrupted neural activity in the BAEP in nine out of 14 patients with Friedreich's ataxia. The same authors reported that an impaired auditory pathway is a relatively common consequence in this disease. Satya-Murti et al.[25] showed a normal audiological evaluation, and alteration in all waves of the BAEP in four patients diagnosed with Friedreich's ataxia. They reported that these alterations could be attributed to the degeneration of the spiral ganglion neurons. A study by López-Diaz-de León et al.[26] assessed two adolescents with Friedreich's ataxia, who showed abnormalities in the BAEP with normal otoacoustic emissions, pointing to auditory neuropathy. Thus, auditory thresholds were normal in one patient, and the other was diagnosed with a mild sensorineural hearing loss. Pelosiet al.[27] assessed 15 patients with Friedreich's ataxia and observed the presence of wave I, and absence of wave V in all patients, irrespective of the symptom durationor the clinical severity of the disease, raising the hypothesis that these alterations were related to primary axonal degeneration. Santarelli et al.[28] stated that the sensory neural hearing loss is one of the clinical features of Friedreich's ataxia, and most patients present auditory neuropathy. According to the authors, the neuropathy was explained by the presence of faulty nerve connections due to the loss of inner hair cells, causing the interruption of the acoustic signal. Spinelli et al.[29] reported that auditory neuropathy was a dysfunction of the auditory nerve, which caused a disconnection in the nerve conduction, probably related to an alteration in the myelination of those fibers, probably located in the inner hair cells and in their synapses. Auditory neuropathy has been observed in Friedreich's ataxia, Guillan-Barré and Charcot-Marie-Tooth type II diseases.

The measurement of the acoustic immittance was altered in 46.6% of the Friedreich's ataxia patients in our study, and there was no reference to this finding in the literature to compare with our results. It is known thatfibers leave the anterior cochlear nuclei and go, via the trapezoidal body, to the nuclei of the contralateral facial nerve, and on to the superior olivary complex, which in turn, make synapses with the nucleus of the facial nerve. The ipsilateral fibers from the anterior cochlear nuclei establish these connections and, from the nuclei of the facial nerves, axons innervate the stapes muscles. Thus, in neurodegenerative diseases, the anterior cochlear muscles are impaired, with possible interferences in the mechanism of the acoustic reflex[30].

In the current study, there was a higher prevalence of alterations in the BAEP test, which showed significant alterations in the integrity of the brainstem auditory pathway. This finding corroborates the literature, where Yokoyama et al.[21] reported alterations in several structures of the central auditory pathway, showing a higher sensitivity of the BAEP test in detecting alterations of the acoustic impulse along the central auditory pathway.

In conclusion, the most-reported change in the audiological assessment was the prevalence of the descending audiometric configuration at the frequency of 4kHz, and bilateral absence of the acoustic reflex at the frequency of 4kHz.

In the electrophysiological evaluation, 40% of the patients had alterations, mostly showing an increase of the latencies in waves I, III and V and in the interval of interpeaks I-III, I-V and III-V In 13.3% of the patients, wave V was absent and, in one patient (3.3%), all waves were absent.

Therefore, it is importantto study the central auditory system using an electrophysiological assessment to detect abnormalities in the brainstem auditory pathway in this population.

Conflict of interest:

There is no conflict of interest to declare.

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Publication History

Received: 19 September 2017

Accepted: 14 December 2017

Article published online:
28 August 2023