Auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD) is primarily considered a hearing disorder, with balance issues rarely reported. Although some studies have investigated vestibular abnormalities in ANSD in addition to auditory deficits, the neurological aspects have largely been overlooked. Subtle balance deficits in individuals with ANSD often go unnoticed, which has resulted in limited research in this area....
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Discussion
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Audiologists evaluating late-onset ANSD patients should consider referring for broader neurological assessment, as subclinical balance and multisystem neurological involvement may be present and clinically underdetected.
Recognising late-onset ANSD as a potential marker of wider neurological disease could change the diagnostic workup and referral pathways for this patient group.
- 01Late-onset ANSD may present as part of a broader multisystem neurological condition rather than an isolated auditory disorder.
- 02Subclinical (not yet causing noticeable symptoms) balance abnormalities were identified in this patient group.
- 03Findings suggest standard audiology assessment alone may be insufficient for late-onset ANSD cases.
- 04Published in AIMS Neuroscience (2026).
- 05Study design details (sample size, comparator) are not stated in the available description.
Late-onset ANSD is associated with subclinical neurological and balance abnormalities indicating multisystem neurological involvement.
studypartially supported- PMID
- 42870987
- DOI
- 10.3934/Neuroscience.2026018.
- Journal
- AIMS Neuroscience
- Publication type
- research_article
- Evidence level
- 4
- Population
- Adults with late-onset auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder
- Intervention
- Assessment of subclinical neurological and balance abnormalities in late-onset ANSD
Primary outcomes
Prevalence of subclinical neurological abnormalities in late-onset ANSD; Prevalence of subclinical balance abnormalities in late-onset ANSD