J Korean Neurol Assoc.
1997 Apr;15(2):377-381.
A case of pure word deafness
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Pusan National University, Korea.
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.
