OBJECTIVE: To alert pediatricians about the auditory neuropathy, a disease that has been only recently described and is still unknown by many physicians, and to describe its risk factors, clinical and diagnostic features in order to enable an early and effective therapeutic intervention. DATA SOURCE: A literature search using terms such as "auditory neuropathy" and "neuropatia auditiva" has been conducted in the PubMed, Lilacs and SciELO databases between 1996 and 2010. DATA SYNTHESIS: Described in 1996, the auditory neuropathy, or auditory dyssynchrony is clinically characterized by a disorder in understanding words, even in patients with light or moderate hearing loss. It has been related to generalized neuropathies and neonatal risk factors, such as intensive care admission, hyperbilirubinemia, sepsis and hypoxia. After clinical suspicion, the diagnosis is confirmed by the presence of otoacoustic emissions associated with the absence of waves in auditory brainstem responses. The therapy remains controversial, with the following options: hearing aids fitting and follow-up therapy for the habilitation/rehabilitation of language. In cases of failure there are also reports of satisfactory results with cochlear implants. CONCLUSIONS: This study emphasizes the importance of the recognition of auditory neuropathy by pediatricians, which is yet an underreported problem in Latin America.
hearing loss, sensorineural; hearing tests; neonatal screening