Auditory neuropathy-a rare condition where CI provides improved hearing and speech development

Auditory neuropathy (AN) was reported 30 years ago in 1979 when Davis and Hirsh presented the first case with normal or near normal hearing threshold but absent auditory brainstem responses. Many names have been given since then including paradoxical hearing loss, brainstem auditory processing syndrome, central auditory dysfunction, neural synchrony disorder or neural dyssynchrony. The term auditory neuropathy was first given by Sininger and colleagues in 1995. More and more AN articles have been published in recent years. The present short review and case report focus on the most important characteristics from a clinical point of view in order to let young physicians know AN, and consequently make correct diagnosis.