Epilepsy syndromes associated with hearing loss

Abstract

Patients with epilepsy who have also hearing loss represent a distinct group of patients, often with aggravated medical history, comorbidities and high potential for disability. The etiopathogenetic factors of epilepsy and hearing loss may be common to these conditions (neuroinfections, craniocerebral injuries, cerebral circulatory disorders, perinatal pathology, etc.). In addition, these two syndromes may occur as part of hereditary diseases, so their timely recognition and genetic diagnosis are important for determining further medical and genetic prognosis. This article provides an overview of orphan genetic diseases associated with epilepsy and hearing loss — MERRF syndrome, MELAS syndrome, EAST syndrome, Ayme-Grippsyndrome, epilepsy, hearing loss and mental retardation syndromes, associated with mutations in SPATA5 gene, DOOR syndrome, Gustavson syndrome.