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Elevated pitch perception owing to carbamazepine-activating effect on the peripheral auditory system: auditory
Hiroyuki Wakamoto1, Aya Kume, Naoko Nakano
1Department of Pediatrics, Ehime Prefecture Niihama Hospital, Niihama City, Japan. hirwaka@shikoku.ne.jp
Journal of Child Neurology
|September 28, 2004
Summary
Carbamazepine can cause auditory disturbances like perceiving sounds as higher pitched. Auditory brainstem response tests revealed changes in a young epilepsy patient, suggesting a peripheral auditory system effect.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Audiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Auditory disturbances are rare carbamazepine side effects with unclear mechanisms.
- Carbamazepine is an anticonvulsant medication used to treat epilepsy and neuropathic pain.
Observation:
- A 9-year-old epilepsy patient reported falsely higher pitch perception after starting carbamazepine.
- Auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing was conducted to investigate the auditory disturbance.
Findings:
- ABR results showed prolonged peak latency of wave V and interpeak latencies (I-V) at 85 dB HL.
- Wave amplitudes were elevated, especially at lower click stimulation intensities.
Implications:
- Findings suggest carbamazepine may activate the peripheral auditory system, not just suppress the central nervous system.
- This activation could increase sensitivity to low-frequency sounds, leading to altered pitch perception.