Auditory Neuropathy
(AN; Auditory Dyssynchrony; Auditory Synaptopathy; Neuropathy, Auditory; Auditory Processing Disorder)
Definition
| The Ear |
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| Copyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc. |
Causes
- Damage to the hair cells in the inner ear
- Bad connections between the hair cells in the inner ear and the nerve to the brain
- Damaged nerve
- A mixture of these problems
Risk Factors
- Family history of hearing loss
- Lack of oxygen at birth
- Very low birth weight
- Gilbert's syndrome (a genetic disorder) that requires a blood transfusion
- Neurological disorders (eg, Charcot-Marie-Tooth Syndrome , Friedreich’s ataxia )
- Infectious disease (eg, mumps )
- Immune disorders
- Exposure to chemicals or medicines (eg, aminoglycosides, loop diuretics) that cause hearing loss
- Tumor
- Neurofibromatosis type 2 (genetic disorder of the nervous system)
- Trauma
Symptoms
- The sound is heard, but the word is not clear (white noise)
- Sounds tune in and out
- Words and sounds seem out of sync
- Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
Diagnosis
- Auditory brainstem response (ABR) to measure brainwave activity
- Otoacoustic emissions (OAE) to record how the cells in the ear respond to clicking sounds
Treatment
-
Working with a team of specialists, including:
- Otolaryngologist (ENT)—doctor specializing in disorders of the ear, nose, and throat
- Audiologist—doctor specializing in hearing loss
- Speech-language pathologist—healthcare professional who specializes in communication disorders
-
Using technology, such as:
- Cochlear implants —surgically implanted electronic devices that stimulate the auditory nerve to send information to the brain
- Hearing aids
- Listening devices (eg, frequency modulation [FM] systems)
-
Having speech-language therapy, such as:
- Sign language
- Speech-reading (also known as lip-reading)
- Exercises combining listening skills with technology
- Saving current hearing skills
- Restoring lost hearing
- Finding new ways of communicating
Prevention
- If you are pregnant, ask your doctor how you can avoid infections.
- Have your baby’s hearing checked at each doctor’s visit.
- Talk to your doctor if you have any conditions related to AN.
RESOURCES
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association http://www.asha.org/
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/
CANADIAN RESOURCES
Canadian Association of Speech Language Pathologists and Audiologists http://www.caslpa.ca/
Ontario Association for Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists http://www.osla.on.ca/
References
Auditory neuropathy. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders website. Available at: http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing/neuropathy.asp . Published March 2003. Accessed November 28, 2012.
Causes of hearing loss. My Baby’s Hearing website. Available at: http://www.babyhearing.org/HearingAmplification/Causes/Neuropathy.asp . Accessed November 28, 2012.
Cochlear implants. American Academy of Otolaryngology website. Available at: http://www.entnet.org/HealthInformation/cochlearImplants.cfm . Updated January 2011. Accessed November 28, 2012.
Ototoxicity. American Academy of Otolaryngology website. Available at: http://www.entnet.org/Practice/policyOtotoxicity.cfm . Published December 2006. Accessed November 28, 2012.
