Objective: To evaluate hearing deficit in patients with Oral Submucous Fibrosis.

Study background: A Cross Sectional study. Settings: The present work was carried out in the Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Sharad Pawar Dental College, Sawangi (Meghe), Wardha, Maharashtra, India. Subjects and methods: 20 patients clinically diagnosed as having OSMF were evaluated by audiometry.

Results: On comparing hearing loss in patients with grade I OSMF, there was a slight variation observed in values between Rt and Lt sides. Patients with grade II OSMF demonstrated hearing loss which was bilateral in 5 of the 9 patients with Conductive Hearing Loss (CHL). 4/9 patients had mild CHL on either Rt or Lt. sides. 5 cases in group II had normal hearing threshold on both sides. Patient with grade III OSMF had bilateral mild CHL.

Conclusion: Significant correlation was observed between the degree of fibrosis of the palatal muscles and hearing deficit.

Keywords: Oral submucous fibrosis, Audiometry, Conductive hearing loss