Original Research Article
Year: 2022 | Month: September | Volume: 12 | Issue: 9 | Pages: 258-263
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20220933
A Study on Diagnosis of Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder in Adults and Comparison of Its Management with Hearing Aids Versus Cochlear Implantation
Prasanth N P1, Dr. Ravanan M P2, Deepak Raj P V3
1Department of Audiology, Ascent ENT Hospital, Perinthalmanna, Kerala- India
2Department ENT-Audiology Unit, Govt. Medical College, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu- India
3Audiology Unit- Dept. of ENT, Malabar Medical College Hospital, Calicut, Kerala-India
Corresponding Author: Prasanth N P
ABSTRACT
This study was done at two super specialty hospitals with the purpose of identifying the best diagnostic methods and management options for Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorders (ANSD) in adults. In the management part, we compared the benefits of hearing aids versus cochlear implantation in adult subjects with ANSD. This study was conducted between August 2014 and July 2020. Out of a large number of patients who came to the department, 30 patients who were willing for the study and fulfilled the criteria of ANSD were taken as subjects. Average age of the subjects was 29 years. Specific risk factors which are common in infantile ANSDs were not seen in adult subjects. Pure tone audiometry showed sensory neural hearing loss varying from mild to profound in severity and varying configurations. The word discrimination scores varied from 0% to 70%. Ipsilateral and contralateral Acoustic reflexes were absent in both ears. Brain stem evoked responses showed absent/abnormal peaks at maximum stimulus presentation levels. Cochlear microphonics was present in 80% of individuals and DPOAEs were present in 70% of individuals. Only 30% showed benefit after hearing aid use. 4 individuals underwent cochlear implantation and they showed improvement in hearing threshold, speech discrimination, and reception skills. Thus benefits of hearing aid are limited in late onset ANSDs but they show considerable benefit with cochlear implantation. Audiological investigations such as PTA, Speech audiometry, Immittance Audiometry, OAE & ABR plays the key role in diagnosis of ANSD. A large sample size study and long term follow up is needed to assess the exact outcome of various management options in adults with ANSD.
Key words: ANSD - Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder, DPOAE – Distortion Product Otoacoustic emissions OAE – Oto Acoustic Emissions. ABR - Auditory brainstem response, PTA- Pure Tone Audiometry cochlear microphonics, hearing aids, speech discrimination, cochlear implantation SNHL – Sensory Neural Hearing Loss ANSI – American National Standards Institute