Audiological Correlates to a Rupture of a Pontine Arteriovenous Malformation

Abstract

This is a report of a female patient in her midthirties who sustained a hemorrhage secondary to an arteriovenous malformation in the region of the pons. The patient's initial symptoms included hearing loss and tinnitus, which were followed by the more characteristic symptoms of headache and loss of consciousness. Results of audiological testing at three months postaccident documented the presence of a hearing loss and a central auditory processing disorder, and the patient was provided an auditory rehabilitation program. Follow-up testing over the course of an additional year documented improvement in both pure-tone threshold and central test results; however, at 15 months postaccident, some auditory deficits remained, especially in the ear ipsilateral to the primary site of lesion. The anatomical correlates of these deficits are discussed, as are the potential contributions of both the auditory rehabilitation program and spontaneous recovery mechanisms to the documented improvements in auditory function.

Auditory Training for Central Auditory Processing Disorder

“…Musiek and Baran reported on a young adult patient who experienced a hemorrhage in the pons that was a consequence of an arteriovenous malformation. 77 The patient was evaluated audiologically at 3 months following this event, at which point she had noted significant hearing difficulties, especially when listening in background noise. An audiogram performed at this visit showed relatively normal hearing in the left ear and a sensorineural loss that was severe in the high frequencies in the right ear.…”

Lateralized Auditory Symptoms in Central Neuroaudiology Disorder

“…he relationship between auditory cortex compromise and related auditory symptoms has been demonstrated in many instances (see Musiek et al, 1994;Musiek and Baran, 2004). The symptoms linked to damage of auditory cortex and/or its closely surrounding areas include difficulty hearing in noise, understanding speech, appreciating music, localizing sounds, interpreting verbal messages, and so on (Scherg and von Cramon, 1986;Baran et al, 2004;Bamiou et al, 2006).…”