A case of pure word deafness

J Korean Neurol Assoc > Volume 15(2); 1997 > Article

Journal of the Korean Neurological Association 1997;15(2): 377-381.

순수어농 1례

성상민, 김상화, 박규현

부산대학교 의대 신경과

A case of pure word deafness

Sang Min Sung, M.D., Sang Hwa Kim, M.D., Kyu Hyun Park, M.D.

Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Pusan National University

Abstract

Pure word deafness refers to an inability to understand spoken language with relatively normal reading, writing and speaking as well as comprehension of nonverbal sounds. We report a case of 36 year-old right-handed man with a mitral valve prolapse who presented with a pure word deafness following bilateral primary auditory cortical infarction. The auditory deficit was specific for spoken language, while recognition of non-verbal sounds was normal. Pure tone threshold audiometry revealed mild sensorineural loss up to 2000 Hz and a moderate high frequency loss. Brainstem auditory evoked potentials were normal. Brain MRI showed that the infarction was confined to bilateral superior temporal gyri including primary auditory cortex.