[Central deafness without aphasic disorders due to bilateral temporal lesion]

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Neuroscience
• Otolaryngology

Background:

• Recurrent cerebrovascular events can lead to diverse neurological deficits.
• Temporal lobe lesions are associated with auditory processing and comprehension impairments.

Observation:

• A 68-year-old male presented with sequential strokes affecting different hemispheres over 12 years.
• The second stroke resulted in persistent, complete central deafness and auditory hallucinations.
• Verbal comprehension was affected due to deafness, not aphasia.

Findings:

• Computerized tomography revealed alterations consistent with bilateral temporal lobe infarctions.
• The findings suggest a correlation between bilateral temporal lobe damage and central deafness.
• Auditory hallucinations may occur in the acute phase of such lesions.

Implications:

• This case highlights the potential for bilateral temporal lobe infarcts to cause profound deafness.
• Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for diagnosing and managing hearing loss post-stroke.
• Further research into stroke-induced auditory deficits is warranted.