Clinical Trial Finder

Inclusion Criteria:

• - Psoriatic patients that are treated in our institute.

Exclusion Criteria:

• - Patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases (peripheral vascular disease,congestive heart failure, status post cerebrovascular accident).

• - Conditions that are harmful to the inner ear (chronic renal failure,history of noise exposure, usage of ototoxic drugs, chronic otitis media, ear surgery in the past, significant head trauma in the past, ear drum perforation).

• - participant that complains of vertigo/ dizziness/ unsteadiness.

• - Participant who is/ was suffering from known inner ear disease: meniere disease, acoustic neurinoma, vestibular neuronitis.

Whether psoriatic patients have higher risk for developing inner ear dysfunction (hearing loss and dizziness) is an important issue that needs to be elucidated. Awareness to the elevated risk (if there is any) of inner ear impairment, early detection and treatment of the condition may reduce the morbidities resulting from undiagnosed audiovestibular impairment. In a prospective study the investigators will examine the inner ear function (vestibular and auditory) of psoriatic patients and compare it to an healthy, young control group. The study will include 2 groups of participants: psoriatic patients and healthy volunteers. psoriatic patients are recruited from the dermatology clinic while the healthy volunteers are members of the hospital staff. The participants will undergo 2 sets of examinations: 1. auditory function examination: hearing test (that includes pure tone audiometry, speech audiometry and discrimination level), tympanometry and otoacoustic emissions. 2. vestibular function examination:

• - Video head impulse test: a ten-minute, non- invasive test that includes a computer and a set of goggles worn by the participant.

The participants is sitting in front of a wall while wearing the goggles, the investigator moves the participant's head sideways with short, rapid movements. the computer calculates the accuracy and the velocity of the eyes movements.

• - The participants fills a dizziness handicap inventory questionnaire.

The participants from the psoriatic group are recruited from the dermatology clinic. The healthy group participants are members of the hospital staff and are recruited from the hospital.

Arms

Active Comparator: psoriatic patients

psoriatic patients that are recruited from the dermatology clinic. This arm will undergo audiovestibular evaluation.

Active Comparator: healthy volunteers

Healthy volunteers that are members of the hospital staff and will be recruited from the hospital. This arm will undergo audiovestibular evaluation.

Interventions

Device: - audiovestibular function

Hearing test- includes a pure tone audiometry, speech audiometry and discrimination level. tympanometry- Includes inserting headphones into the participants ears and computer calculation the compliance of the eardrum. otoacoustic emission: Includes headphones insertion and calculation of the inner ear audiological function. Video head impulse test. - Dizziness handicap inventory questionnaire. questionnaire filled by the participants provides a subjective data regarding the severity of the dizziness.