Cochlear dead regions<\/h2>\n
Earlier this year, I went to a talk by Brian Moore at The University of Auckland School of population health about testing for cochlear dead regions using the TENs test. I remember learning about this a number of years ago but it was great to hear it again and by the researcher himself.<\/p>\n
In summary, dead regions are where there are no longer inner hair cell or innervation in some frequencies. The cochlear is tonotopic- high frequencies are found in the basal part of the cochlear (the beginning) and low frequencies at the far end (the apex).<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n \u2013 the high frequencies (most common, can be due to noise induced hearing loss) Providing amplification (with hearing aids) in the frequency range where there is a dead region does not add any benefit. In some cases it can make hearing worse as it causes distortion across other\u00a0regions where hearing is good. This is why we often reduce amplification or take it away in the frequencies where people have severe or profound hearing loss.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nCochlear dead regions can occur\u00a0in:<\/h2>\n
\n\u2013 low frequencies (more likely to be congenital)
\n\u2013 there can be a \u201cdead hole\u201d in the middle (very uncommon)
\n\u2013 a \u201csurviving island\u201d (very poor hearing)
\nor \u201cpatchy\u201d \u2013 possible auditory neuropathy (very poor hearing)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nCochlear dead regions and hearing aids<\/h2>\n
Cochlear dead regions<\/h2>\n