The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medication on auditory skills in clinically depressed subjects. Experimental subjects prescribed an SSRI were tested in a medicated and an unmedicated condition, and the test results were compared. Furthermore, the experimental group was compared with a control group consisting of normal subjects. Test measures included pure tone audiometry, tympanometry, acoustic reflex thresholds, and auditory electrophysiologic measures such as auditory brainstem and auditory late responses. An assessment scale for depression (Beck Depression Inventory-II) was also used. Results indicated statistically significant differences for the BDI-II between the control and experimental groups for both conditions. Electrophysiologic measures indicated a significantly shorter latency for auditory late potential P1 at 55 dBnSL, and a significantly larger amplitude at 45 dBnSL for the N1/P2 component for the unmedicated group. Although the other measures showed trends, they did not reach significance.

This study compared auditory behavioral and physiologic measures in normal control subjects and subjects prescribed with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) who were yet to take the drug and those currently taking an SSRI. Test measures used were pure tone averages (PTA), acoustic reflex thresholds, uncomfortable loudness levels (UCL), otoacoustic emissions, masking level difference, temporal integration, amplitude resolution, and Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) scores. Results indicated that there was a significant difference in the amplitude resolution of the unmedicated group when compared to the medicated and the control group. There was also a significant positive correlation between dynamic range (difference between UCL and PTA) and amplitude resolution. The BDI-II revealed a significant difference between the scores of the unmedicated and the control group as well as the medicated and the control group. Although other test measures indicated differences between the groups, the differences were not statistically significant.