ANSD Flashcards
What is ANSD?
Hearing disorder characterized by disruption of temporal coding of acoustic signals in auditory nerve fibers resulting in impairment of auditory perceptions relying on temporal cues
Disruption of neural synchrony
With ANSD, are pre-neural or cochlear OHCs affected?
No
Only neural is affected
Is frequency resolution affected?
No
Does the disordered auditory nerve function affect processing of auditory temporal cues?
Yes
It causes disruption of temporal resolution and neural timing
Leading to interference with language comprehension (especially in noise) and localization of sound sources and binaural perception
What is the operational definition of ANSD?
Intact otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) but an absent or markedly abnormal ABR response
Why are OAEs intact?
OAEs are present because OAEs are related to OHC function and OHCs are intact in ANSD
Although OAEs may disappear in later stages of the disease
The cochlear microphonic (CM) is present (sometimes even if OAEs are absent) because CM also shows activity from the OHCs
Why are are ABRs disrupted?
ABR is generated by neural structures, which are disrupted
Neural integrity of the eighth nerve and lower brainstem pathways are affected in ANSD
Are ECochG and ARTs also absent?
Yes
Due to VIII N involvement
Was there considerable controversy and gaps in knowledge regarding ANSD?
Yes
Including nosology/terminology, site of lesion, etiology, and management
Was ANSD initially thought to be rare?
Yes
But current estimates of ANSD prevalence in children with permanent hearing loss is ~ 7 to 10%
It is, therefore, imperative for every audiologist working with children to be able to identify the typical pattern of ANSD
When was ANSD discovered?
Case study posted in 1991 about an 11-year old boy
What are some of the names that ANSD has had?
Auditory neuropathy
Presynaptic and postsynaptic nerve disorder
Auditory neuropathy/dys-synchrony
Auditory synaptopathy
Auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder
What is ANSD referred to more recently?
cochlear synaptopathy or hidden hearing loss
What is cochlear synatopathy due to noise exposure?
Loss of synchrony of neural firing causing loss of temporal resolution
Possibly at the level of the dorsal cochlear nucleus because of synaptic damage at the inner hair cell
And/or at the level of the spiral ganglion
Is there gradual neural degeneration in synaptopathy?
Yes
Adversely affects fine speech structure decoding and hence speech perception, especially in noise, which also is seen in ANSD
What is the site of lesion for ANSD?
Selective loss/damage of synaptic junctions of IHCs
Disordered release of neurotransmitters by IHC synapses
Injury to the spiral ganglion
Demyelination/damage to myelin sheath, cell body, or axon of CN VIII, which can spread to portions of the brainstem
Auditory nerve hypoplasia/absence
Can multiple sites of lesion cause the same pattern?
Yes
What are IHCs crucial for?
Sound discrimination
Do IHCs synapse with VIII N fibers?
Yes
What are ribbon synapses?
IHCs synaptic vesicle
Contain NT
Mediated by calcium channels
How many well babies are diagnosed with ANSD?
1 in 300
How much of the deaf population has ANSD?
About 10 to 15%
Can ANSD present with unilateral hearing loss?
Yes, about 20%
Can ANSD occur with other conditions?
Yes
Can ANSD patients be cognitively intact but have medical, vision, motor, and other issues?
Yes
What can the etiology of ANSD be?
Idiopathic, genetic, or environmental
Can genetic-based ANSD be either non-syndromic or syndromic?
Yes
What mode of inheritance does genetic based non-syndromic ANSD have?
AR
What are some examples of genetic based nonsyndromic mutations that can cause ANSD?
Mutations of connexin 26 and otoferlin (DFNB9)
Is genetic based syndromic ANSD often associated with peripheral neuropathies such as charchot marie tooth and friedrichs ataxia?
Yes
Is there also a mitochondrial mode of inheritance for ANSD?
Yes
Moms will pass it down, but fathers will not
Can immune disorders be accompanied by deafness typical to ANSD?
Yes
Such as Guillian-Barre syndrome
Affects proximal nerve roots and proximal portion of 8th nerve