Acta Scientific Otolaryngology (ASOL) (ISSN: 2582-5550)

Case Study Volume 3 Issue 6

Recovery from Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder Post-Traumatic Brain Injury: A Case Study

Suman S Penwal* andChandrahas U Chandanshive

Department of Audiology and Speech Therapy, Topiwala National Medical College, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

*Corresponding Author: Suman S Penwal, Department of Audiology and Speech Therapy, Topiwala National Medical College, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.

Received: May 04, 2021; Published: May 15, 2021;

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Abstract

Background: Auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder is a retrocochlear pathology.It is marked by an abnormal transmission of stimuli by the auditory nerve.The purpose of the study is to illustrate the audiological profile of the infant with post-traumatic brain injury and subsequent recovery observed in follow-ups.

Methods: In the present case study report a 3-month-old infant was undertaken for detailed audiological evaluations and follow-up.The infant was suffering from right-sided paresis post head injury. The case underwent the diagnostic audiological test battery using standard norms and protocols.All the test procedures were non-invasive and complied with the declaration of Helsinki.

Results:The audiological test array suggested the presence of auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder in the left ear. However, the absence of contralateral reflexes in the opposite/ better ear was suggestive of bilateral retrocochlear pathology.The repeat evaluation revealed recovery from the retrocochlear pathology.

Conclusion: The recovery was attributed to the activity-dependent neuroplasticity and spontaneous drainage of neurotoxic blood accumulation in the brain.

Keywords: Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder; Recovery; Traumatic Brain Injury

Introduction

  Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is reported to encompass a range of severity and can be caused by various stimuli as reported by Graham, McIntosh[1].It was labeled as a “silent epidemic” and was found to affect 69 million individuals every year in Southeast Asia and Western Pacific regions[2].Haarbauer-Krupa, Haileyesus[3] reported that TBI in children younger than 4 years of age is majorly caused by unintentional falls due to their actions (running) and the caregivers' action (carrying).

  Chang, Hsu[4] demonstrated that children with TBI have an increased risk of developing speech and language disorders secondary to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Autism, and Developmental delay.However, Purcell, Reiss[5] evaluated 356 cases with TBI and reported that children have better resilience as opposed to adults.This can be attributed to better neuroplasticity in children.Oleksiak, Smith[6]had found that hearing dysfunction was observed in individuals post-TBI in veterans.They found an extensive variety of hearing loss among the veterans who had traumatic brain injury varying from conductive hearing loss, sensorineural hearing loss, to higher auditory deficits.

  Auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD) is a hearing disorder that impairs speech perception abilities by altering neural connections.It is found to affect the connections between the hair cells and the auditory nerve ending, or between auditory nerve synapses[7].The prevalence of auditory neuropathy was reported to vary from <1% to 10% as reported in the literature worldwide[8-10].Vignesh, Jaya[8] also found that 5% of children diagnosed with sensory neural hearing loss had auditory neuropathy in India.The various causes of auditory neuropathy involve gene disorders, hyperbilirubinemia, mumps, traumatic injuries, premature delivery, hypoxia, epilepsy attacks, and ataxic motor neuropathy[7,11-13].Few other cases reported acute ANSD post sequelae of chikungunya, post pontine hemorrhage[14,15].Also, there are very few western studies that discuss early-onset ANSD[16].

  The management options are highly debated in literature with few supporting the use of hearing aids[17,18] and cochlear implants[19].There are also studies professing complete recovery in individuals with auditory neuropathy[20,21].From this, Psarommatis, Riga[21] inferred that the decision about the intervention for hearing in infants with ANSD that involves amplification and cochlear implant should rest till the child attains six months of age[21].The current study aims to highlight the auditory profile of a three-months-old infant diagnosed with auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder and unilateral paralysis (Hemiparesis) and moderate to severe visual damage post-TBI with complete recovery observed in hearing abilities after six months.

Case Study

  A three-month-old child was brought to the audiology clinic of the rehabilitation center in South Mumbai by parents after getting a referral from a neurologist.He was dropped from the caregiver's arm from 10 feet height at two months of age.Following the drop, the infant had right-sided hemiparesis with moderate to marked reduction in optic nerve function.Parents were not suspecting any change in hearing abilities and brought the child only because they were referred by the neurologist.

  The child was taken up for detailed audiological evaluation that included behavioral observation audiometry as the child lacked neck control to perform visual reinforcement audiometry (Maico MA42, Maico Diagnostics GmbH, Germany).The child also underwent tympanometry and reflexometry (AT235, Interacoustics, Denmark); otoacoustic emission screeningDistortion Product and Transient Evoked Otoacoustic Emissions (Neuro-Audio-Screen, Neurosoft, Russia); and screening for Auditory Brainstem evoked Responses (ABR) at 35 dBnHL and 60 dBnHL was done using CE-Chirp stimulus (Neuro-Audio-Screen, Neurosoft, Russia).Additionally, the detailed diagnostic evaluation of ABR was done using Click and 500 Hz Tone burst stimulus (Duet, Intelligent Hearing Systems, U.S.A).Clinical neurological evaluations and brain MRI (Figure 1and 2) was done by the neurologist and visual evoked potentials were administered by the ophthalmologist.The standard procedures were employed to carry out all the evaluations.

Figure 1:M.R.I report of the child with traumatic brain injury reporting diffused gliosis in the cortices(front).

Figure 2:M.R.I report of the child with traumatic brain injury reporting diffused gliosis in the cortices(back).

Ethical considerations

  In the present study, non-invasive testing procedures were used.All the conditions complied with the declaration of Helsinki. All the test procedures were explained to the family members before testing and informed consent has been taken from the parents.

Results

  The data collection was done in three visits of the infant to the rehabilitation center in Mumbai and findings are given accordingly,

Visit 1: The infant was 3-month-old. He was taken up for behavioral observation audiometry. He was awake and calmly seated on the mother's lap wearing the headphones.The clinician observed response to 45 dB SPL in both ears for warble tone delivered through TDH-39 headphones (Telephonics, 815 Broad Hollow Road, Farmingdale, NY) housed in MX-41AR cushion.The responses observed were eye-widening and eye movements in search of the sound source.However, an inverted ‘L’ Jerger pattern was observed on acoustic reflexes for 1 kHz tone with absent ipsilateral and contralateral reflexes in the left ear.This was observed despite the ‘A’ type tympanogram and healthy tympanic membrane on Otoscopic evaluation in both the ears.Absent acoustic reflexes with the presence of behavioral responses to sound warranted further physiological evaluations.

  The presence of otoacoustic emissions in both the ear and the absence of ABR in the left ear at both levels cleared the diagnostic picture.Also, prolonged Cochlear Microphonics was observed at moderate to higher presentation levels in the left ear ABR recordings (Figure 3), stimulus artifacts were ruled out by pitching the tube of the transducer.The child was diagnosed with unilateral auditory neuropathy secondary to TBI.Additionally, the absence of left contralateral reflexes was suggestive of mild retrocochlear pathology on the right side. The speech and language evaluations revealed a delay of 3 months in receptive and expressive language on the Receptive-Expressive Emergent Language test (REEL).The parents were counseled about regular monthly follow-up and speech and language stimulation therapy at the center.

Figure 3:Waveform of Auditory evoked brainstem responses of the infant at 3 months of age. *Note: Red = Findings in right ear, Blue = Findings in left ear.

Visit 2:In the second session, after two months, it was observed that the ipsilateral reflexes were present in both ears.However, contralateral reflexes remained absent.Similarly, ABR screening revealed pass in the left ear at 60 dB nHL and fail at 35 dB nHL. Rest all the test findings remained unchanged on the second visit.Parents were asked to continue speech therapy and follow up in the next month for audiological evaluations.

Visit 3: The child has completed seven months of age and the mother reported that the child has started to smile when spoken to and tracks the speaker.On repeating detailed audiological evaluation it was found that the entire test findings came within normal limits.Along with, diagnostic ABR evaluation demonstrated the presence of wave V till 10 dB nHL in both ears (Figure 4).During these visits, the child was attending speech therapy and physiotherapy (neurodevelopmental therapy) once a week at the clinic and was on medications given by the neurologist.

Figure 4:Waveform of Auditory evoked brainstem responses of the infant at 7 months of age. *Note: Red = Findings in right ear, Blue = Findings in left ear.

Discussion

  The absence of ABR in the left ear can be attributed to the bilateral diffuse cortical gliosis as reported in the MRI (Figure 1 and 2).The recovery observed in six months from the trauma can be attributed to two components; first, the activity-dependent neuroplasticity, as summarized by Ganguly and Poo[22] a specific task-oriented behavior could redistribute the cortical nerve allocation.This could be due to regular auditory input facilitated by intense language stimulation.The observation made by Scheibel, Newsome[23] seconds the above finding, reporting over activation of the brain to partially improve cognitive functioning.Secondly, the spontaneous drainage of neurotoxic subdural accumulation in the brain added to the recovery.Psarommatis, Riga[21] tested 177 neonates and reported spontaneous recovery of auditory neuropathy in 13 out of 20 infants on follow-up.They concluded that one should wait for six months before making any amplification decisions in the clinics based on the high-risk register and clinical findings.

  Dewan, Rattani[2] found that reactive astrocytes can increase excitatory synaptic strength.Other authors have also found that reactive astrocytes maintain the homeostatic synaptic plasticity required to obtain effective brain circuit functioning.This modulation in the firing of neurons was reported to be regulated by the production of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid receptor and cytokine TNFα[24,25].It was also explained by Burda, Bernstein[26] that Astrocytes are responsible for post-traumatic tissue repair and demonstrate good potential in speeding recovery.

Conclusion

  The present study reported the audiological profile of a child who acquired auditory dyssynchrony after TBI.The child also presented with marked damage in the functioning of the visual nerve and hemiparesis on the right side as diagnosed by the respective members of the medical team.The subsequent follow-up revealed complete audiological recovery from auditory dyssynchrony pattern.Hence, the current study supports the inference drawn by Psarommatis, Riga[21] to rest the intervention till the child diagnosed with ANSD, who otherwise demonstrates normal hearing unilaterally on the behavioral and electrophysiological auditory test, attains six months of age.

  The parents were asked to follow up once in three months for regular audiological and speech and language developmental screening.Further research is required to support the probable cause of the recovery.The limitation of the current study is that child’s hearing evaluations were not done before the traumatic injury and hence the presence of congenital auditory spectrum disorder cannot be ruled out.However, the unilateral paresis was not present since birth and was reported after the trauma.

Acknowledgements

  The authors would like to thank the parents of the infant for their co-operation.

Funding

  No funding sources.

Conflict of Interest

  The author declares no conflict of interest in the present study.

Ethical Approval

  Not required.

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References

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Citation

Citation: Suman S Penwal and Chandrahas U Chandanshive. “Recovery from Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder Post-Traumatic Brain Injury: A Case Study". Acta Scientific Otolaryngology 3.6 (2021):59-63.




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