Auditory Neuropathy: Clinical Evaluation and Diagnostic Approach

Authors

  • Guilherme Machado Carvalho Departamento de Cirurgia do Ouvido, Nariz, Garganta e Cabeça & Pescoço. Universidade de Campinas. São Paulo.
  • Beatriz Prista Leão Departamento de Medicina. Universidade do Minho. Braga.
  • Priscila Zonzini Ramos Departamento de Cirurgia do Ouvido, Nariz, Garganta e Cabeça & Pescoço. Universidade de Campinas. São Paulo.
  • Alexandre Caixeta Guimarães Departamento de Cirurgia do Ouvido, Nariz, Garganta e Cabeça & Pescoço. Universidade de Campinas. São Paulo.
  • Arthur Menino Castilho Departamento de Cirurgia do Ouvido, Nariz, Garganta e Cabeça & Pescoço. Universidade de Campinas. São Paulo.
  • Edi Lúcia Sartorato Laboratório de Genética Molecular. Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética. Universidade de Campinas. São Paulo.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20344/amp.6942

Keywords:

Auditory Neuropathy, Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem, Hair Cells, Auditory; Hair Cells, Inner; Hair Cells, Outer, Mononeuropathies.

Abstract

Introduction: Auditory neuropathy is a condition in which there is a change in the neuronal transmission of the auditory stimuli. Our objective was to describe the patients’ series within the clinical spectrum of auditory neuropathy.
Material and Methods: We designed a transversal, retrospective study, with a description of a consecutive case series. Auditory neuropathy was defined by the presence of acoustic otoemissions plus absent/abnormal auditory brainstem responses with cochlear microphonism.
Results: 34 patients with bilateral hearing loss, 23 males and 11 females, were included in the study. Eighty percent of the cases had congenital onset of hearing loss. Acoustic otoemissions were absent in 67% of them. Cochlear microfonism was present in 79% of all cases. Prenatal, perinatal or ambiental factors were present in 35.2% of the cases.
Discussion: Medical literature shows great variability in findings related to auditory neuropathy, both in its etiology and epidemiological data.
Conclusion: Auditory neuropathy presents a broad spectrum of changes that may result from mild to severe changes in the functioning of the auditory pathway, and in our sample we observed that 80% of Auditory neuropathy have congenital onset of hearing loss and/or with cochlear microphonism identified. 91% of patients experience significant hearing impairment and 53% suffer from severe or profound deafness.

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Author Biography

Guilherme Machado Carvalho, Departamento de Cirurgia do Ouvido, Nariz, Garganta e Cabeça & Pescoço. Universidade de Campinas. São Paulo.

Otorrinolaringologia, UNICAMP

CBMEG, UNICAMP

Published

2016-06-30

How to Cite

1.
Carvalho GM, Leão BP, Ramos PZ, Guimarães AC, Castilho AM, Sartorato EL. Auditory Neuropathy: Clinical Evaluation and Diagnostic Approach. Acta Med Port [Internet]. 2016 Jun. 30 [cited 2024 Mar. 29];29(6):353-9. Available from: https://www.actamedicaportuguesa.com/revista/index.php/amp/article/view/6942

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Section

AMP Student Original