The International Tinnitus Journal

Auditory neuropathy spectrum: the importance of adequate diagnosis

Author(s): Fernanda Ferreira Caldas; Isabella Monteiro de Castro Silva; Marina Santos Teixeira; Tatiana Medeiros Deperon; Carolina Costa Cardoso; Monique Antunes de Souza Chelminski Barreto; Carlos Augusto Costa Pires de Oliveira; Fayez Bahmad Jr

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of misdiagnosis of the hearing impaired children, in order to investigate the existence of Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder.

Methods: Analytical, prospective study conducted with 15 participants (30 ears) aged 10-12 years, with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, attending a Hearing Rehabilitation Center, accompanied by a multidisciplinary team with otolaryngologist, audiologist, psychologist, teacher and social worker. The participants underwent ENT examination and audiological assessment: tympanometry, acoustic reflexes, otoacoustic emissions test and Auditory Evoked response.

Results: From the total sample (30 ears), 8 ears (26.7%) presented absent responses in the Auditory Evoked response with the presence of cochlear microphonism. Within the selected eight ears, six (75%) showed presence of otoacoustic emissions test in isolated frequencies and two (25%) ears had otoacoustic emissions test even in the presence of the isolated frequencies. It was found that 26.7% of the ears tested presented results that are compatible with Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder.

Conclusion: The results of this study have identified characteristics related to ANSD in 26.7% of ears tested, 6 participants with age over 10 years old, showing that misdiagnosis in hearing loss patients is still very frequent

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