Central deafness: An audiological case study

Abstract

Cases of central deafness are rare but they can be most informative about the function and dysfunction of the central auditory nervous system. Previous information on the anatomy, physiology, and terminology related to central deafness is reviewed and a patient with central deafness is profiled. The patient suffered bilateral cerebrovascular accidents (CVAs) compromising Heschl's gyrus and some adjacent neural tissue on both sides of the brain. At 18 months post CVAs, this patient could not understand speech presented solely through the auditory modality. Environmental sounds were perceived, but rarely recognized. Pure-tone testing revealed a severe-to-profound hearing loss bilaterally, but otoacoustic emissions, acoustic reflexes, and the auditory brainstem response were essentially within normal ranges for both ears. Middle late and late auditory potentials were compromised, yielding complex modifications of the waveforms. These findings and the compromised vascular anatomy in this case are detailed in this article.

A Case of Hearing Loss after Bilateral Putaminal Hemorrhage: A Diffusion-tensor Imaging Study

“…However, such inconsistent responses to loud noises were in accordance with previous case reports. 27,28) Further investigation is needed to clarify this issue.…”

Hearing disorders in stroke

“…These findings contrast with abnormal results in evoked potentials that arise from the thalamocortical pathway and beyond, such as middlelatency and late auditory evoked potentials, indicating that the behavioral lack of response to sounds is due to impaired perceptual awareness of the sound. 35.3B) showed a cerebrospinal fluid attenuation area in the right hemisphere In these cases, behavioral responses to sounds can be absent or inconsistent, while the audiometric responses when tested tend to be variable (Musiek et al, 2007). The patient suffered a right temporoparietal infarct in 1997 and a subsequent left posterior cerebral artery infarct in 2006, following which she presented with no response to sound and severe expressive dysphasia.…”

“…This is indicated by present responses in lower-level tests of the sensory endorgan such as transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (e.g., Musiek et al, 2007). However, peripheral detection of sounds is either intact or partially impaired.…”

“…Musiek et al (2007) implemented a speech and language rehabilitation program targeting the patient's language deficits together with use of augmentative and alternative communication devices that included a pocket talker, an FM trainer, and a word prediction program, but benefits of these communication devices were Musiek et al (2007) implemented a speech and language rehabilitation program targeting the patient's language deficits together with use of augmentative and alternative communication devices that included a pocket talker, an FM trainer, and a word prediction program, but benefits of these communication devices were …”

Audiological profile in cases with cerebrovascular accidents

“…Another study by Musiek et al, Pollak, Baran and Zaidan et al (2007) [7][8][9][10][11] reported a case with bilateral CVA compromising Hescle's gyrus, following 18 months post-CVA the audiological findings revealed bilateral profound hearing loss, speech awareness present but rarely recognized with OAE present, bilateral acoustic reflex and ABRs were within normal limit, however, middle and late responses were yielding complex modification of wave forms, however, GDT is also compromised in this case.…”