Auditory Desynchrony

Auditory desynchrony is an earlier term for the condition now more commonly called auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD). The term reflects the underlying mechanism: the auditory nerve fires in a poorly synchronized pattern in response to sound, rather than with the precisely timed bursts needed to accurately encode speech and other complex sounds.

In auditory desynchrony, the cochlea's outer hair cells often function normally (evidenced by present otoacoustic emissions), but the neural signal sent to the brain is disordered in its timing. This produces a characteristic test profile: present OAEs alongside absent or abnormal auditory brainstem response (ABR). The clinical presentation and management are the same as for auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder.

The term auditory desynchrony is less commonly used in current clinical practice but may appear in older literature, research publications, and some patient records. Audiologists and cochlear implant teams are familiar with both terms. If you encounter this term in a clinical report or referral, it refers to the same condition described under auditory neuropathy.