Auditory neuropathy: three cases among a group with sensorineural hearing loss

Mohd Khairi MD, Normastura AR, Wan Zaharah AW
Correspondence: Dr Mohd Khairi Md Daud, khairi@kck.usm.my

ABSTRACT
The prevalence of auditory neuropathy is not known, although the majority of cases are felt to lie within the population of neonatal intensive care unit graduates. We report three cases of auditory neuropathy, out of 211 children with sensorineural hearing loss, seen at our audiology clinic from April 1, 1999 to December 31, 2003. Two patients did not have a risk factor for hearing impairment. Screening policies based solely on transient evoked otoacoustic emissions testing will not detect auditory neuropathy effectively, and may falsely reassure parents and professionals unaware of this condition.

Keywords: auditory neuropathy, deafness, hearing loss, sensorineural hearing loss, transient evoked otoacoustic emissions
Singapore Med J 2009; 50(9): e324-e325