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Reversible sensorineural hearing loss in a stroke patient
1Army Audiology and Speech Center, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC.
Ear and Hearing
|April 1, 1989
Summary
A lateral pontine stroke caused temporary sensorineural hearing loss. Hearing function, including word recognition, fully recovered within two months.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Otolaryngology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Lateral pontine stroke is a rare cerebrovascular event affecting the brainstem.
- Sensorineural hearing loss can be a consequence of neurological damage.
- Understanding the impact of stroke on auditory pathways is crucial for diagnosis and treatment.
Observation:
- A patient with a confirmed lateral pontine stroke presented with moderate unilateral sensorineural hearing loss.
- Audiological and neurological assessments, including Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR), word recognition scores, acoustic reflexes, and CT scans, indicated a brainstem lesion.
Findings:
- The patient demonstrated significant recovery of hearing function.
- Auditory recovery included improvements in acoustic reflexes and word recognition ability.
- Full recovery of hearing occurred within two months post-stroke.
Implications:
- This case highlights the potential for auditory recovery following brainstem stroke.
- It underscores the importance of comprehensive audiological evaluation in patients with pontine lesions.
- Further research into the mechanisms of auditory plasticity after stroke may inform therapeutic strategies.