Cortical deafness

Demonstration of the pathologic anatomy by CT scan

EARNEST, M. P. M.D.
MONROE, P. A. M.A.
YARNELL, P. R. M.D.

University of Colorado Medical School (Drs. Earnest and Yarnell) and Denver General Hospital (Ms. Monroe), Denver.

Dr. Earnest's address is Department of Neurology, Denver General Hospitat, W. 8th Avenue and Cherokee Street, Denver, CO 80204.

Accepted for publication February 28, 1977.

Neurology 27(12):p 1172-1175, December 1977.

Article abstract

A 27-year-old man with a prosthetic mitral valve had bilateral cerebral infarcts that caused a nonfluent aphasia, oral apraxia, and deafness. A computer-assisted tomographic scan showed symmetrical bilateral temporoparietal lesions. A review of the literature on other cases of cortical auditory deficits suggests that the clinical syndrome of pure word deafness in many cases is probably a less severe form of cortical deafness and is due to less extensive bilateral temporal gray matter lesions. However, strictly white matter lesions may produce some cases of either syndrome.