Auditory Neuropathy
Overview
Causes
The outer ear sends vibrations to the inner ear. There, hair cells break them into electrical signals. These are sent to the brain. It filters them as sound.
AN may be due to 1 or more of these causes:
- Problems with the hair cells in the inner ear
- Bad links between the hair cells and the nerve to the brain
- A damaged nerve
- Nerve problems
Risk Factors
Things that may raise the risk of this problem are:
- Other family members who have had hearing loss
- Lack of oxygen at birth
- Very low birth weight
- Jaundice after birth
- Gilbert syndrome—a genetic disorder
- Infections, such as mumps
- Problems with the immune system
- Being around chemicals or medicines that cause hearing loss, such as some chemotherapies
- Tumors of the nerve or those that press on the nerve
- Neurofibromatosis type 2—a genetic problem that causes tumors in the nerves
- Trauma
SymptomsandDiagnosis
Symptoms
Problems vary from person to person. They may be:
- Sounds that are heard but are not clear enough to hear
- Sounds that tune in and out
- Words and sounds that seem out of sync
- Ringing in the ears
Treatments
Treatment
The goal of treatment is to:
- Save the person's current level of hearing
- Restore lost hearing
- Learn new ways to communicate
Treatment options are:
- Devices to help with hearing, such as hearing aids, listening devices, and cochlear implants
- Speech-language therapy, such as sign language and speech reading
This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.
Edits to original content made by Denver Health.
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