[Auditory neuropathy in children(analysis of 14 cases)].

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinic findings and the audiological characteristics of auditory neuropathy in children. METHOD: Clinical findings and systemic audiometry were analyzed in 14 cases(28 ears) of auditory neuropathy in children. RESULT: In 14 cases the primary onset age was 7 approximately to 13 year-old,4 male and 10 female. 7 cases had differential pitch tinnitus,mainly low pitch with poor speech discrimination. 1 case manifested peripheral neuropathy symptoms at 1 year after diagnosis. Audiograms of pure tone threshold (PTT) showed various curves including ascending slope, spoon, peak, lain letter S, letter W, gentle slope. Both ascending slope and spoon were 53.57% (15/28 ears). PTT revealed a elevated range from mild to moderate degrees. There was no significant difference between the cours for 0.5 approximately 1.0 year and 1.5 approximately 2.0 years ( t =0.24, P >0.05). Either the acoustic reflex (AR) was absent or the AR threshold was elevated. Speech discrimination scores (SDS) were 0% approximately 46%, average (14.64+/-15.42) %. Auditory brainstem response (ABR) was absent or severely abnormal. Prevalence of distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE) were 100%, amplitude of DPOAE was normal, which could not be suppressed by contralateral white noise. Prevalence of spontaneous otoacoustic emissions (SOAE) were 82.14% (23/28 ears). CONCLUSION: Audiological characteristics in pediatric auditory neuropathy is obviously. Systemic audiometry has important clinical signification in recognition, diagnosis and research of auditory neuropathy.