Semin Hear 2012; 33(03): 274-282
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1315726
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Electrophysiological Measures of Auditory Processing in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

Robert L. Folmer
1   National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research, Portland VA Medical Center
2   Department of Otolaryngology
,
Michele M. Hutter
1   National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research, Portland VA Medical Center
,
David J. Lilly
1   National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research, Portland VA Medical Center
2   Department of Otolaryngology
,
Jeffrey Shannon
1   National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research, Portland VA Medical Center
,
Linda Casiana
1   National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research, Portland VA Medical Center
,
Debra Wilmington
1   National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research, Portland VA Medical Center
2   Department of Otolaryngology
,
M. Samantha Lewis
1   National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research, Portland VA Medical Center
2   Department of Otolaryngology
,
Curtis J. Billings
1   National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research, Portland VA Medical Center
2   Department of Otolaryngology
,
Christine Krisky
3   Advanced Imaging Research Center
,
Yosef A. Berlow
3   Advanced Imaging Research Center
,
James Pollaro
3   Advanced Imaging Research Center
,
William Rooney
3   Advanced Imaging Research Center
,
Dennis Bourdette
4   Department of Neurology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
31 July 2012 (online)

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Abstract

Previous studies demonstrated that patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience more hearing loss than age-matched control subjects. Patients with MS also exhibit deficits processing auditory stimuli, including speech in a background of noise. These findings suggest that auditory deficits in the MS population can result from damage to central neural pathways in addition to peripheral hearing structures. To assess auditory processing functions in patients with MS, this study used auditory event-related potentials (AERPs)—specifically, the auditory brain stem response (ABR) and long-latency AERPs including the P300. AERPs recorded from 20 patients with MS were compared to AERPs from 20 healthy control subjects. When ABR stimuli (clicks) were presented monaurally, there were no significant differences between groups in component latencies or amplitudes for waves I through V. However, binaural presentation of the same stimuli elicited wave V ABR components significantly greater in amplitude for the control group compared with the MS group. Long-latency AERP results showed no significant differences between groups for N100 latency and amplitude or for P300 latency. P300 component amplitude was significantly greater for control subjects compared with patients with MS. It is probable that neural degeneration and impaired neural transmission within the MS group contributed to these AERP results. AERPs are useful tools that can be used to assess peripheral and central auditory functions as well as cognitive processing abilities in patients with MS. AERPs could be used to evaluate neural integrity, disease progression, and treatment efficacy in this population.