Auditory neuropathy — neural and synaptic mechanisms

Auditory neuropathy impairs speech comprehension severely, beyond the extent that would be expected on the basis of increased threshold of audibilityAuditory neuropathy encompasses a range of disease mechanisms that typically disrupt the synaptic encoding and/or neural transmission of auditory information in the cochlea and auditory nerveAuditory synaptopathy, impaired sound encoding at the synapses between inner hair cells and spiral ganglion neurons, results from genetic defects or insults such as exposure to loud noiseAdvanced physiological and psychophysical testing combined with molecular genetic analysis facilitate diagnostics of auditory synaptopathy and neuropathyAlthough traditional hearing aids often do not provide substantial benefit for patients with auditory synaptopathy or neuropathy, cochlear implants can provide effective hearing rehabilitation depending on the site(s) of disorder