Binaural interference in multiple sclerosis: case study

A case report of a young, adult male with multiple sclerosis who demonstrates binaural interference is presented. Binaural interference was demonstrated on behavioral and physiologic measures during the active stage. Binaural interference was present, although reduced, during the stage of remission. During remission, binaural interference occurred despite the absence of interaural asymmetry in the audiometric configuration or suprathreshold speech-recognition score. A trial period of left ear amplification was introduced. A possible explanation for the improvement in soundfield suprathreshold speech-recognition score with amplification is the reduction of the binaural-interference effect with monaural amplification of the affected ear when there is bilateral normal-hearing sensitivity.