Background: Epilepsy is a chronic medical disease and is associated
with comorbid adverse somatic conditions due to
epilepsy itself or its long-term treatment. Objectives: This
study evaluated cochlear function in patients with idiopathic
epilepsy and treated with carbamazepine (CBZ). Patients
and Methods: Included were 47 patients (mean age = 34.56
± 7.11 years and duration of illness = 17.84 ± 7.21 years) and
40 healthy subjects. They underwent pure-tone audiometry
and transient evoked otoacoustic emission (TEOAE) analyses.
Results: Hearing loss (mainly bilateral mild) was reported
in one third of patients. Compared to controls, patients
had lower TEOAE amplitudes at 1.0–4.0 kHz particularly at
high frequencies (3 and 4 kHz). Significant correlations were
identified between TEOAE amplitudes with CBZ dose (at
3 kHz: r = –0.554, p = 0.008; at 4 kHz: r = –0.347, p = 0.01), its
serum level (at 4 kHz: r = –0.280, p = 0.045) and duration of
treatment (at 3 kHz: r = –0.392, p = 0.008; at 4 kHz: r = –0.542,
p = 0.001). Conclusions: Long-term CBZ treatment may result
in cochlear dysfunction and auditory deficits.