Publication

Abstract : The Gaps-in-Noise (GIN) test is a short and quick assessment tool of temporal resolution. The present study was done to assess temporal resolution skills in patients with brainstem lesions. The study group consisted of patients with radiologically confirmed cerebellopontine angle (CPA) tumors (n=15) demonstrating normal hearing bilaterally. Temporal resolution skills were investigated in these patients using the GIN test. The findings of patient group were compared with results obtained on 100 normal hearing subjects. Gap Detection Threshold (GDT) and Total Percentage Score (TPS) were estimated. The indices in tumor as well as nontumor ears were poor and statistically significant (p0.001) in comparison to normative data. When tumor ears were compared to nontumor ears, no significant difference was observed with respect to GDT. However, TPS was better in the nontumor ears and statistically significant (p0.05). The present study demonstrated impaired temporal resolution in tumor and nontumor ears of CPA tumor patients. This indicates the tumor induced vulnerability of auditory system to temporal alterations.