How Timing Makes the Difference in Sound Recognition

Sometimes difficulty understanding speech and sound has nothing to do with hearing loss but can be caused by auditory neuropathy. Auditory neuropathy can be challenging to grasp because it manifests differently from person to person — one individual may have thresholds in the normal hearing range while others have profound hearing loss. Auditory neuropathy can impact anyone on the hearing scale because it has to do more with how the brain processes the sound that the ears are taking in.

Think of auditory neuropathy as a radio that is between radio stations. While the individual can pick up that sounds are occurring, it sounds slightly out of tune, so they can’t make out exactly what is being said. Follow along as El Dorado Hearing takes a deeper look at how timing makes a difference in sound recognition for auditory neuropathy patients.

What Is Auditory Neuropathy?

Auditory neuropathy refers to a hearing disorder where the inner ear can detect sound but struggles to send the sound from the ear to the brain. Sometimes, the brain misinterprets the signals, and other times, the hearing nerve may not be processing sound correctly. Individuals of all ages can experience this hearing disorder and can frequently go undiagnosed for some time since individuals with auditory neuropathy can range in their hearing abilities.

Whether the patient has minor, moderate, or profound hearing loss, one thing will always be consistent — the individual will have a similar time understanding speech clearly. Keep an eye out for the following symptoms if you suspect that you or a loved one has auditory neuropathy:

• Hearing loss
• Fluctuations in hearing
• Ringing in the ears
• Difficulty understanding speech
• Other neuropathic issues such as writing, talking or running

Because auditory neurology can be difficult to diagnose, it’s essential to reach out to an audiologist at the first sign of a problem, indicating you may have a hearing disorder.

The Causes of Auditory Neuropathy

Researchers believe that there are several causes of auditory neuropathy, which include:

• Damage to the inner hair cells that transmit sound through the nervous system
• Damage to the auditory neurons that transmit information to the brain
• Genetic mutations to the auditory system
• Damage to the auditory system or auditory nerve

While an individual may experience auditory neurology from one of these causes, there may be instances where the patient is experiencing a combination of these problems.

How to Diagnose Auditory Neuropathy

To diagnose auditory neuropathy, a patient must undergo one of four types of audiological evaluations:

• Tympanometry and acoustic reflexes
• Auditory Brainstem Response
• Otoacoustic emissions
• Behavioral audiogram

If you believe that you or a loved one is suffering from auditory neurology, we provide complete hearing evaluations at El Dorado Hearing. Our hearing specialists are highly experienced and provide you with an in-depth hearing assessment to evaluate whether you have auditory neurology and how the loss affects you. We will determine which type of testing is required for your situation or if multiple tests are recommended and work with you to select a recommended treatment plan.

For personalized hearing testing in Tucson, AZ, make El Dorado Hearing of Tucson first on your list. We strive to make our hearing offices a comfortable place where everyone feels welcome.

If you are ready to regain control of your hearing, visit us at one of our hearing clinics. Contact us today to set up an appointment with one of our caring and expert hearing specialists!