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BSER abnormalities in a multiple sclerosis patient with normal peripheral hearing acuity.
The American Journal of Otology
|January 1, 1983
Summary
Brain stem evoked potentials (BSER) can detect multiple sclerosis plaques in auditory pathways, even with normal hearing. This case highlights BSER
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Clinical Neurology
- Audiology
Background:
- Brain stem evoked potentials (BSER) are clinically valuable for detecting multiple sclerosis (MS) plaques in auditory brain stem pathways.
- BSER abnormalities can be present in patients with normal hearing acuity on conventional audiometry.
Observation:
- A 20-year-old female with a history of MS presented with normal hearing acuity over six years.
- BSER testing revealed significantly abnormal neural conduction times in the left ear during ipsilateral stimulation.
Findings:
- Despite normal audiometric results, BSER testing indicated subclinical auditory pathway dysfunction.
- Histopathologic examination of the brain stem confirmed MS involvement of the auditory tracts, corroborating the BSER findings.
Implications:
- BSER testing is a sensitive tool for identifying MS-related auditory pathway lesions.
- This case underscores the utility of BSER in diagnosing neurological conditions affecting hearing, even when standard hearing tests are normal.
- Early detection of MS plaques via BSER can aid in clinical management and understanding disease progression.