1Professor & Head, Department of Physiology, Thanjavur Medical College, Thanjavur
2Assistant Professor, Department of Physiology, Thanjavur Medical College, Thanjavur
*Corresponding author Vinodha R Professor & Head, Department of Physiology, Thanjavur Medical College, Thanjavur-613004 Email: vinodhadr@gmail.com
Online published on 11 February, 2016.
Iron deficiency anaemia is a worldwide health problem and is the most common nutritional deficiency. Impulse transmission in the auditory pathway might be affected by iron deficiency. Studies in this field are limited to children. Therefore to analyze whether iron deficiency (ID) in adults can also affect auditory transmission, this study was conducted to determine the effect of ID on sensory transmission in the auditory pathway.
36 female subjects from low socioeconomic group were selected. All were aged between 20–35. Haematological parameters like Hb, MCV, MCHC, Peripheral smear study and serum ferritin were measured. Brain stem auditory evoked potential (BAEP) were performed by brief acoustic monaural click stimuli.
Haematological parameters & ferritin levels were significantly lower in anaemic group with a p value of < 0.0001. Wave V and I-V inter peak latency (IPL) were significantly prolonged with a p value of < 0.01.
In the present study auditory transmission was significantly prolonged in ID adult females & it reflects that a relation exists between ID anaemia and BAEP recordings. Further study can also be carried out in ID of different age group after treatment with fortified food.
Iron deficiency anaemia, Serum ferritin, BAEP-Absolute and interpeak latency
