A Case of Childhood Pure Word Deafness

Abstract

Pure word deafness is a type of auditory agnosia characterized by a selected disturbance of speech sound in auditory discrimination.
We have followed the clinical course of the girl with pure word deafness whose lesion has occurred surmiseddly at the latter half of 3-years old. Her speech and auditory disturbance were reported, and we discussed the difference between diagnosis of pure word deafness and other auditory disturbance The conclusions, were as follows:
1. The results of a pure-tone audiometry test (PTA) and BSR test showed normal thresholds. She could not repeat speech sounds. Repetition of several animals' sounds and melody were almost correct. Deterioration of her articulation became gradually remarkable. We consider this fact as one of the features of childhood pure word deafness. The thresholds for the PTA fluctuated. Hyperactivity and lip reading were observed in her daily behavior. CT scanning showed a slight atrophy in the left temporal lobe. EEG revealed irregular traces on the bila-teral temporal lobes.
2. We emphasized the need to distinguish pure word deafness from peripheral hearing disorders and Wernicke Aphasia.
3. We suggested that the recognition of speech sound patterns is disturbed in pure word dea-fness.
4. Changes of character, abnormal EEG, disorder of sound localization were not considered significant features of childhood pure word deafness.
5. In this case, the prognosis for speech training was poor, therefore, a language therapy using visual method was seemed preferable.