A new study released this week in the journal JAMA Otoryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, clearly links hearing loss in both the upper and lower frequency ranges to HIV in the time when the virus was treated by highly active antiretroviral medications. The research shows that adults who are infected with HIV, and had been using antiretroviral medications during the virus' early years, developed worsening hearing in the higher and lower frequency ranges when compared to adults who did not have the virus.
The research team led by San Diego University's Per Torre III examined the pure-tone listening benchmarks of a total of 400 subjects. Out of these 400, the subjects were divided into two categories of 262 men and 134 women. Of these subjects, 117 men and 105 women were tested as being HIV positive.
Scientists discovered that the average low frequency pure-tone and the average high frequency pure-tone were much higher for those who were HIV infected. This meant that the hearing of those infected with HIV was far worse when compared to the adults not infected with the virus. Though the researchers believe now that the implications in hearing may be attributed to long-term usage of antiretroviral treatments and the virus itself, covariants such as HIV viral loads and CD4+ of the current cell count were not quantified as part of the study.
Researchers came to the conclusion that adults that are infected with HIV and have taken antiretroviral medications for years will most likelydemonstrate poorer hearing in the upper and lower frequency ranges, while some could even suffer with lower hearing across all ranges.
It is unclear at this time if it is the virus causing the poor hearing, the treatments or a combination of both. More research is necessary to narrow the cause of hearing loss in adults with HIV, as well as to determine the proper course of action for treatment. Until that time, it is wise for all adults suffering from the virus to have their hearing checked regularly and monitor their ability to hear on a regular basis.
According to a study in the journal of the National Academy of Science, HIV is currently undergoing a fast evolution. The virus is gradually becoming unable to cause AIDS although it has developed a resistance to the body's natural immunity. This evolution has also caused HIV to lose much of its replication ability as the virus changes to the immune reactions of the human body.
