Multidisciplinary Evaluation and Management of Cortical Deafness and Other Related Central Hearing Impairments

Abstract

Purpose A summary of literature surrounding cortical hearing impairment (cortical deafness, auditory agnosia, and pure word deafness) was studied to identify causes and prognoses of the disorders, in addition to assessment methods and rehabilitation strategies for the multidisciplinary care team setting. Method A comprehensive review of the literature surrounding cortical hearing impairment with a focus on clinical evaluation and management of patients with these conditions was performed. Results An extensive literature search resulted in 109 relevant articles discussing cases of cortical hearing impairment. Conclusions Cortical deafness continues to be the rarest of the cortical hearing impairment spectrum of disorders, with reports of auditory agnosia and pure word deafness appearing more commonly. In order to assess and manage patients with these conditions, audiologists must utilize a comprehensive set of clinical tools. This information must be combined with results of thorough multidisciplinary evaluations in order to better characterize diagnoses and outcomes for these patients. Continued reporting of case studies and summaries of the literature is encouraged, with a specific call for more consistent assessment and reporting formats.