auditory neuropathy


auditory neuropathy

a disorder of hearing in children characterized by sensorineural hearing loss for pure tones, reduced word discrimination disproportionate to the pure tone loss, normal outer hair cell function as determined by measurement of otoacoustic emissions, and absent or abnormal auditory brainstem response.

au·di·to·ry neu·rop·a·thy

(aw'di-tōr-ē nūr-op'ă-thē) A distinctive type of hearing deficit that seemingly is due to a malfunction of the eighth cranial nerve. Previously referred to as auditory neural synchrony disorder. Speech comprehension in quiet surroundings is out of proportion to the pure tone threshold elevation.

auditory neuropathy

Abbreviation: AN
Impaired hearing in children due to an absence of auditory evoked potentials, despite the presence of normal cochlear hair cell structure and function. Synonym: auditory dyssynchronySee also: neuropathy