Effect of hormone replacement therapy on the auditory brainstem response of postmenopausal women.

Objective: To investigate whether hormone replacement therapy modifies the auditory brainstem response in postmenopausal women.

Methods: Nineteen postmenopausal women received hormone replacement therapy (study group) and 25 received no treatment nor placebo (control group). In both groups, age ranged from 45 to 60 years and pure-tone sensitivity was 25 dB or better at frequencies between 500 and 2000 Hz. Auditory brainstem response was evaluated before and after 3 months of hormone use in the study group. The control group was also evaluated at the same periods. The following auditory brainstem response parameters were compared between the two groups: latencies of waves I, III, and V; I-III, III-V, and I-V interpeak intervals.

Results: Mean age did not differ between groups (study group: 51.5 ± 0.7 years; control: 52.9 ± 0.6 years). No significant differences in wave latencies, or interpeak intervals were observed between the two groups (p > 0.05).