title: Strengthening of hearing ear representation reduces binaural sensitivity in early single-sided deafness.
abstract: Single-sided deafness initiates extensive adaptations in the central auditory system, with the consequence that a stronger and a weaker ear representation develops in the auditory brain. Animal studies demonstrated that the effects are substantially stronger if the condition starts early in development. Sequential binaural cochlear implantations with longer interimplant delays demonstrate that the speech comprehension at the weaker ear is substantially compromised. A pronounced loss of the ability to extract and represent binaural localisation cues accompanies this condition, as shown in animal models.
authors.affiliation: Institute of AudioNeuroTechnology and Department of Experimental Otology, ENT Clinics, School of Medicine, Hannover Medical University, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Andrej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kral
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hubka
authors.forename: Jochen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tillein
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019929:Cochlear Implantation; D003638:Deafness / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D046088:Hearing Loss, Unilateral / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D013997:Time Factors