Cortical Deafness

Medical Condition:
Cortical Deafness

Hearing loss due to disease of the central nervous system auditory pathways, which originate in the cochlear nuclei of the pons and then ascend bilaterally to reach the inferior colliculi of the midbrain, medial geniculate bodies of the thalamus, and then the auditory cortices located in the temporal lobes. Bilateral lesions of the auditory pathways are usually required to cause central hearing loss. Cortical deafness refers to loss of hearing due to bilateral auditory cortex lesions. Unilateral brain stem lesions involving the cochlear nuclei may result in unilateral hearing loss.