Hearing thresholds among individuals with dependence on psychoactive substances: A comparative cross sectional pilot study

Abstract

Background: Globally, the use of multiple psychoactive substances (MPS), either together or at different times, is on the rise. It is associated with a significant public health burden, including an increased risk for hearing impairment. This study aimed to determine the hearing thresholds among individuals with dependence on multiple psychoactive substances.

Methodology: It was a comparative cross-sectional study of 41 subjects with dependence on multiple substances and an equal number of age and sex-matched comparison groups. The test group further had three subgroups, based on their predominant substances of dependence; Group I: Cigarettes, Cannabis, and Codeine; Group II: Group I substances and intravenous Pentazocine. Group III: Group II substances and intravenous Ketamine. Specific Substance Involvement scores for each of the psychoactive substances and their associated level of risk were determined, based on the ASSIST V3 questionnaire. All participants had tympanometry and pure tone audiometry. A Pure Tone Average (PTAv) was calculated. Data were analysed using SPSS 25 and statistical significance was set at a p-value 0.05.

Results: There were 36 (87.8%) males and 5 (12.2%) females. The mean age of the test and comparison groups was 27.93 5.47 years and 27.98 5.70 years (p = 0.969). The mean PTAv of the test and comparison groups were 16.07 ± 5.53 dBHL and 11.01± 3.52 dBHL: (p 0.001). The p-value for the difference in the mean PTAv between sub-groups of the test group was 0.173, 0.037, and 0.719, respectively, between Group I and II, Group I and III, and Group II and III, respectively.

Conclusion: Hearing thresholds were higher among individuals with dependence on MPS and statistically significant in those that were dependent on cigarettes, cannabis, and codeine. Further studies are needed on the relationship between PS and hearing loss.