Transient Deafness in Young Candidates for Cochlear Implants
- 25 May 2007
- journal article
- case report
- Published by S. Karger AG in Audiology and Neurotology
- Vol. 12 (5), 325-333
- https://doi.org/10.1159/000103271
Abstract
This study describes 5 infants who were diagnosed with auditory neuropathy (AN) associated with severe to profound neural hearing loss shortly after birth. However, on repetition of the tests 7-12 months later, all infants showed full or partial recovery. The follow-up electrophysiological patterns were characterized by the appearance of wave I, followed by wave III and V, reflecting synchronization of auditory pathways and improvement in auditory nerve function. Suspected causative or contributory factors were neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, hypoxia, ischemia, and central nervous system immaturity, alone or in combination. These findings indicate that lack of an auditory brain stem response does not necessarily mean no hearing and that the situation where AN exists can improve. Thus, clinicians should be made aware that although cochlear implants may yield better auditory performance when applied early, they should be considered a therapeutic option only after repeated measures have proved persistent AN, and no child should be considered for an implant until a behavioral measure of hearing has been obtained.Keywords
This publication has 38 references indexed in Scilit:
- The prevalence of congenital and early-onset hearing loss in Jordanian and Israeli infantsInternational Journal of Audiology, 2006
- Cochlear Implantation at under 12 months: Report on 10 PatientsThe Laryngoscope, 2005
- Bilirubin and the Auditory SystemJournal of Perinatology, 2001
- Improvement of chronic hearing loss after shunt revision: A case reportSurgical Neurology, 2001
- Auditory Neuropathy in ChildrenActa Oto-Laryngologica, 2000
- Contralateral suppression of otoacoustic emissions: An index of the function of the medial olivocochlear systemOtolaryngology -- Head and Neck Surgery, 1994
- Otoacoustic Emissions in Full-Term Newborns at Risk for Hearing LossThe Laryngoscope, 1993
- Development of the Brainstem: Assessment by MR ImagingNeuropediatrics, 1991
- Absent auditory brain stem response: Peripheral hearing loss or brain stem dysfunction?The Laryngoscope, 1984