Positron Emission Tomographic Study of Auditory Sensation in Patients with Severe Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Abstract

The activities of the auditory cortex of patients with severe sensorineural hearing loss were investigated by positron emission computed tomography (PET). The activity of the auditory cortex of a patient with residual hearing was nearly normal. In nearly deaf patients it was low, and the longer the duration of deaf period the lower was the activity. The activity of a prelingual deaf patient was low, not only in the primary auditory cortex but also in the secondary auditory cortex.