HEARING-LOSS AND ASYMMETRY IN MAJOR DEPRESSION

To assess patterns of hearing loss and asymmetry in major depressive d isorder (MDD), pure-tone and brief-click audiometric thresholds were m easured in 59 inpatients with MDD and 40 normal control subjects. For both tasks, patients had higher bilateral thresholds, with marked hear ing loss for the highest pure-tone frequency. At lower frequencies, pa tients displayed significant asymmetry, with poorer hearing in the lef t ear. After ECT, patients maintained the bilateral hearing losses; ho wever, the baseline asymmetry resolved. These findings suggest that bi lateral hearing loss may be a stable characteristic in severe depressi on. Poorer left ear pure-tone hearing may be present during the depres sed state. The baseline asymmetry in audiometric deficits suggests rig ht-hemisphere dysfunction in severe MDD.