Compensatory role of saccule in deaf children and adults: Novel hypotheses

Gohari

2014

ISRN Otolaryngology

Since saccular projection is sound sensitive, the objective is to investigate the possibility that the saccular projections may contribute to auditory brainstem response to 500 HZ tone burst (ABR500 HZ). During the case-control research, twenty healthy controls compared to forty selected case groups as having chronic and resistant BPPV were evaluated in the audiology department of Hamadan University of Medical Sciences (Hamadan, Iran). Assessment is comprised of audiologic examinations, cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (cVEMPs), and ABR500 HZ. We found that forty affected ears of BPPV patients with decreased vestibular excitability as detected by abnormal cVEMPs had abnormal results in ABR500 HZ, whereas unaffected ears presented normal findings. Multiple comparisons of mean p13, n23 latencies, and peak-to-peak amplitudes between three groups (affected, unaffected, and healthy ears) were significant. In conclusion, the saccular nerves can be projective to auditory bundles and interact with auditory brainstem response to low frequencies. Combine the cVEMPs and ABR500 HZ in battery approach tests of vestibular assessment and produce valuable data for judgment on the site of lesion. Regarding vestibular cooperation for making of wave V, it is reasonable that the term of ABR500 HZ is not adequate and the new term or vestibular-auditory brainstem response to 500 HZ tone burst is more suitable.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Vestibular-Auditory Interaction for Auditory Brainstem Response to Low Frequencies

Gohari

2014

ISRN Otolaryngology

“…The cochlear affective response peaking at about 90 dB SPL [ 26 ] and the saccular affective response peaking at about 130 dB SPL [ 8 ]. Indeed, auditory sensitivity of the saccule can contribute to intensity discrimination of natural sounds (voice intonation in speech, singing, crowd actions,and percussive music) [ 7 , 23 , 27 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sound Sensitivity of the Saccule for Low Frequencies in Healthy Adults

Pourbakht

Daneshi

et al. 2013

ISRN Otolaryngology

Approximately 80 years ago John Tait speculated about a possible auditory role for the otolith organs in humans those days, there was no direct evidence for that idea. This time is for us to review and research. Then, the objective of our study was to investigate saccular hearing in healthy adults. We selected twenty healthy controls and twenty-four dizzy cases. Assessment comprised of audiologic evaluations, cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (cVEMPs), and recognition of spoken phonemes in white noise (Rsp in wn). In the case group (a total of 48 ears), the cVEMPs abnormalities were all unilateral (24 affected ears and 24 contralateral unaffected ears). Affected ears with decreased vestibular excitability as detected by abnormal cVEMPs had decreased Rsp in wn (mean = 60.78 ± 8.33), whereas both unaffected (mean = 96.24 ± 2.4) and control ears (mean = 96.24 ± 2.4) presented normal results. The correlation between RSP in wn and p13 latencies was significant (P < 0.05, r = −0.551). The peak-to-peak amplitudes showed significant correlation to RSP in wn (P < 0.05, r = 0.307). The correlation between RSP in wn and the latencies of n23 was significant (P < 0.05, r = −0.493). We concluded in presence of severe competing noise, saccule has a facilitating role for cochlea and can improve to detection of loud low-frequencies.

“…The high response of the saccule allows phonemic self-regulation, compensating the low/absent tone-verbal feedback. The specific sensitivity of the saccule in the low frequency range, and its representation in cortical areas suggests the integration of the saccular information in neuronal networks [14]. …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The data available for hearing impaired subjects show some evidence of changes in the pattern of discriminability for tones above saccular threshold [5]. Compensatory role of saccule in deaf children and adults makes this organ the ending point of the phonetic information (perception) but also the starting point of its regulation (production) [14]. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the possibility that the saccule may contribute to human' hearing.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is All Human Hearing Cochlear?

The Scientific World Journal

2013

The objective of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the possibility that the saccule may contribute to human hearing. The forty participants included twenty healthy people and twenty other subjects selected from patients who presented with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo to Audiology Department of Hazrat Rasoul Akram hospital (Tehran, Iran). Assessments comprised of audiological evaluations, cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (cVEMPs), recognition of spoken phonemes in white noise (Rsp in wn), and auditory brainstem response to 500 Hz tone burst (ABR500 HZ). Twenty affected ears with decreased vestibular excitability as detected by abnormal cVEMPs revealed decreased scores of Rsp in wn and abnormal findings of ABR500 HZ. Both unaffected and normal ears had normal results. Multiple comparisons of mean values of cVEMPs and ABR500 HZ between three groups were significant (P < 0.05, ANOVA). The correlation between RSP in wn and p13 latencies was significant. The peak-to-peak amplitudes showed significant correlation to RSP in wn. The correlation between RSP in wn and the latencies of n23 was significant. In high-level of noisy competing situations, healthy human saccular sensation can mediate the detection of low frequencies and possibly help in cochlear hearing for frequency and intensity discrimination. So, all human hearing is not cochlear.