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Cortical deafness following embolic strokes
Giovanni Siconolfi1, Cristiano Pecchioli2, Petra Vukoja2
1Department of Neuroscience, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, University Hospital Agostino Gemelli, Rome, Italy siconolfig@yahoo.it.
Practical Neurology
|May 24, 2025
Summary
Cortical deafness, a rare condition from auditory cortex damage, was studied in a stroke patient. She showed partial recovery of hearing and language comprehension over months.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Audiology
- Neurology
Background:
- Cortical deafness is a rare condition resulting from bilateral auditory cortex damage, often due to ischemic stroke.
- It affects auditory processing while peripheral and brainstem auditory pathways remain intact.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe a rare case of acute bilateral cortical deafness following a bilateral ischemic stroke.
- To explore the neurophysiological assessment and prognosis of cortical deafness.
Main Methods:
- Case study of a woman with acute bilateral neurosensorial hypoacusis post-stroke.
- Neurophysiological assessments including auditory brainstem responses and evoked potentials.
- Monitoring of auditory function and language comprehension over several months.
Main Results:
- The patient experienced acute bilateral hearing loss due to ischemic stroke affecting temporal lobe auditory areas.
- Partial recovery of auditory function and language comprehension was observed over several months.
- Auditory brainstem responses and evoked potentials gradually normalized, though mild language impairments persisted.
Conclusions:
- Cortical deafness, though rare, can result from ischemic stroke affecting auditory cortices.
- Neurophysiological assessments are crucial for diagnosis and prognosis.
- Partial recovery is possible, highlighting the brain's plasticity even after significant structural damage.
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