Perceptual Consequences of “Hidden” Hearing Loss
Dramatic results from recent animal experiments show that noise exposure can cause a selective loss of high-threshold auditory nerve fibers without affecting absolute sensitivity permanently. This cochlear neuropathy has been described as hidden hearing loss, as it is not thought to be detectable us...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
SAGE Publishing
2014-09-01
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| Series: | Trends in Hearing |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/2331216514550621 |
| _version_ | 1818533278318067712 |
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| author | Christopher J. Plack Daphne Barker Garreth Prendergast |
| author_facet | Christopher J. Plack Daphne Barker Garreth Prendergast |
| author_sort | Christopher J. Plack |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Dramatic results from recent animal experiments show that noise exposure can cause a selective loss of high-threshold auditory nerve fibers without affecting absolute sensitivity permanently. This cochlear neuropathy has been described as hidden hearing loss, as it is not thought to be detectable using standard measures of audiometric threshold. It is possible that hidden hearing loss is a common condition in humans and may underlie some of the perceptual deficits experienced by people with clinically normal hearing. There is some evidence that a history of noise exposure is associated with difficulties in speech discrimination and temporal processing, even in the absence of any audiometric loss. There is also evidence that the tinnitus experienced by listeners with clinically normal hearing is associated with cochlear neuropathy, as measured using Wave I of the auditory brainstem response. To date, however, there has been no direct link made between noise exposure, cochlear neuropathy, and perceptual difficulties. Animal experiments also reveal that the aging process itself, in the absence of significant noise exposure, is associated with loss of auditory nerve fibers. Evidence from human temporal bone studies and auditory brainstem response measures suggests that this form of hidden loss is common in humans and may have perceptual consequences, in particular, regarding the coding of the temporal aspects of sounds. Hidden hearing loss is potentially a major health issue, and investigations are ongoing to identify the causes and consequences of this troubling condition. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T17:56:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ccfa0613a52e4e1db8947898ce6b1596 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2331-2165 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T17:56:34Z |
| publishDate | 2014-09-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Trends in Hearing |
| spelling | doaj.art-ccfa0613a52e4e1db8947898ce6b15962022-12-22T00:56:03ZengSAGE PublishingTrends in Hearing2331-21652014-09-011810.1177/233121651455062110.1177_2331216514550621Perceptual Consequences of “Hidden” Hearing LossChristopher J. Plack0Daphne Barker1Garreth Prendergast2University of Manchester, UKUniversity of Manchester, UKUniversity of Manchester, UKDramatic results from recent animal experiments show that noise exposure can cause a selective loss of high-threshold auditory nerve fibers without affecting absolute sensitivity permanently. This cochlear neuropathy has been described as hidden hearing loss, as it is not thought to be detectable using standard measures of audiometric threshold. It is possible that hidden hearing loss is a common condition in humans and may underlie some of the perceptual deficits experienced by people with clinically normal hearing. There is some evidence that a history of noise exposure is associated with difficulties in speech discrimination and temporal processing, even in the absence of any audiometric loss. There is also evidence that the tinnitus experienced by listeners with clinically normal hearing is associated with cochlear neuropathy, as measured using Wave I of the auditory brainstem response. To date, however, there has been no direct link made between noise exposure, cochlear neuropathy, and perceptual difficulties. Animal experiments also reveal that the aging process itself, in the absence of significant noise exposure, is associated with loss of auditory nerve fibers. Evidence from human temporal bone studies and auditory brainstem response measures suggests that this form of hidden loss is common in humans and may have perceptual consequences, in particular, regarding the coding of the temporal aspects of sounds. Hidden hearing loss is potentially a major health issue, and investigations are ongoing to identify the causes and consequences of this troubling condition.https://doi.org/10.1177/2331216514550621 |
| spellingShingle | Christopher J. Plack Daphne Barker Garreth Prendergast Perceptual Consequences of “Hidden” Hearing Loss Trends in Hearing |
| title | Perceptual Consequences of “Hidden” Hearing Loss |
| title_full | Perceptual Consequences of “Hidden” Hearing Loss |
| title_fullStr | Perceptual Consequences of “Hidden” Hearing Loss |
| title_full_unstemmed | Perceptual Consequences of “Hidden” Hearing Loss |
| title_short | Perceptual Consequences of “Hidden” Hearing Loss |
| title_sort | perceptual consequences of hidden hearing loss |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/2331216514550621 |
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