Central auditory and cognitive functions in patients suffering from migraine: case–control study

Abstract Purpose Assess the effect of migraine on different central auditory and cognitive abilities, compare the findings in migraine with aura versus without aura, and during the headache phase of the attack versus interictally. Also, assess if migraine attacks’ frequency and severity affect central auditory and cognitive abilities. Methods A total of 122 subjects, classified according to the affection with migraine into study group ( n = 60) and control group ( n = 62). Each participant was subjected to detailed medical history, Migraine Disability Assessment and Headache impact test questionnaires, neurological evaluation, basic audiological evaluation, central auditory function tests (SPIN, DDT, DPT, AFT-R), and cognitive function test (P300). Results The results showed significant lower performance in all performed central auditory tests in migraine patients compared with controls. In addition, highly significantly lower performance was found among migraineurs in attacks compared with those not in attack. Regarding cognitive function, patients with migraine had significantly longer P300 latency in both ears compared with the control group, but no significant difference in amplitude. it was also found that patients who were in the attack had significantly prolonged P300 latency either at the right or left ear compared to those who were not in attack. Conclusion Patients with migraine have significantly lower central auditory performance, which is affected by the disease duration, severity, and the presence of migraine attack. They also have significantly prolonged cognitive potential P300 latency not affected by disorder duration or severity but affected by the presence of migraine attack.