Seventy-five patients with hyperlipidemia and inner ear symptoms were divided into 3 groups according to the serum lipid levels. Group A comprised 25 patients with serum total cholesterol level greater than 240 mg/dL. Group B comprised 25 patients with serum triglyceride level greater than 150 mg/dL. Group C comprised 25 patdients with serum total cholesterol level greater than 240 mg/dL and triglyceride level greater than 150 mg/dL. Another 25 persons free from ear symptoms served as the control group. Evaluating the hearing level for air conduction in the study groups, 28%, 20%, and 32% of ears showed abnormal conventional audiograms in the A, B, and C group respectively; while 76%, 80%, and 76% of ears revealed impairment in the range of ultrahigh frequencies. These data suggest that more than 50% of hyperlipidemia patients suffer from ultrahigh frequency hearing loss although their conventional audiograms are normal. Thus, ultrahigh frequency audiometry may serve as a useful tool in assisting the diagnosis of inner ear disorders caused by hyperlipidemia.#0132
