Auditory Neuropathy/Dyssynchrony in Biotinidase Deficiency

Hossein Talebi; Omid Yaghini

doi:10.7874/jao.2016.20.1.53

Abstract

Biotinidase deficiency is a disorder inherited autosomal recessively showing evidence of hearing loss and optic atrophy in addition to seizures, hypotonia, and ataxia. In the present study, a 2-year-old boy with Biotinidase deficiency is presented in which clinical symptoms have been reported with auditory neuropathy/auditory dyssynchrony (AN/AD). In this case, transient-evoked otoacoustic emissions showed bilaterally normal responses representing normal function of outer hair cells. In contrast, acoustic reflex test showed absent reflexes bilaterally, and visual reinforcement audiometry and auditory brainstem responses indicated severe to profound hearing loss in both ears. These results suggest AN/AD in patients with Biotinidase deficiency.

Keywords: Biotinidase deficiency · Auditory neuropathy/auditory dyssynchrony · TEOAEs · ABRs.

Introduction

Biotinidase deficiency is a disorder inherited as a recessive autosomal trait, with infantile onset. This disorder results in failure to recycle the vitamin, biotin [1]. The clinical symptoms of this disorder in untreated individuals with profound enzyme deficiency (<10% of mean normal serum enzyme activity) include seizures, hypotonia, ataxia, breathing problems, alopecia, skin rash, hearing loss, vision atrophy, and developmental delay [2].

In this study, we show a case with possible auditory neuropathy/auditory dyssynchrony (AN/AD) caused by Biotinidase deficiency.

Case Report

T.J was a 2-year-old boy on admission that referred with his parents from pediatric hospital to audiology clinic of Isfahan faculty of rehabilitation in May 2014. He was born at term to Iranian couple who were first-degree cousins. This study was carried out in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration. It is indicated that written informed consent was obtained from his parents. The pregnancy was without any problems. Delivery was performed normally in the hospital. There were not any perinatal and neonatal issues for this case. His parents and his older brother had abnormal vision.

Neurological examination indicated severe axial hypotonia, seizures, and ataxia. His visual system showed normal function evaluated by an ophthalmologist. Physical examination showed a slight conjunctivitis.

Audiologic assessments

In the present case, a comprehensive audiologic case history has been taken from his parents. Otoscopic inspection showed normal external ear canal and tympanic membrane without any middle ear effusion. Acoustic Immittance testing (tympanometry and acoustic reflex test) demonstrated normal tympanograms and absent ipsilateral and contralateral acoustic reflexes bilaterally. Visual reinforcement audiometry was conducted in audiometric frequencies. The results indicated bilateral severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss. In addition, speech and language pathologist evaluated the patient's receptive and expressive speech and language skills and showed abnormalities and significant delay of speech perception and production in comparison to normal children. This case had a severe delay in speech development. He could not produce any words at 2-years-old. This problem is related to late diagnosis and treatment of hearing loss.

Auditory brainstem responses were recorded with 3 electrodes array in which non-inverting electrode was placed on the forehead, inverting electrode on the test ear mastoid and ground electrode on the non-test ear mastoid. The stimulus parameters were as follows: click duration 0.1 ms, repetition rate 11.1/s, sweep count 2,048, analysis time window of 10 ms, low frequency cut-off 10 Hz and high frequency cut-off 3,000 Hz, rarefaction and condensation polarities respectively presented via insert phones at different intensities for threshold estimation. The results showed complete absent responses at high intensity levels (in dB nHL) bilaterally indicating possibly severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss.

Finally, we conducted transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs) for both ears to assess the cochlear response. Otoacoustic emissions are responses emitted spontaneously or evoked by stimulus from the cochlea (outer hair cells). These responses show the outer hair cells, function [3]. In the present study, TEOAEs showed the normal function of the outer hair cells. This finding in addition to the above mentioned results indicated that the auditory system impairment could be occurred as a consequence of disturbed input from the inner hair cells, abnormal synaptic function, or peripheral neural pathology [4 5]. In other words, all of the responses of the patient showed the symptoms of AN/AD caused by Biotinidase deficiency.

Discussion

Sensorineural hearing loss in Biotinidase deficiency is shown in as many as 75% of individuals with symptoms. This impairment and some other symptoms such as visual atrophy, and developmental delay are not usually reversible [1]. AN/AD describes patients who demonstrate intact outer hair cell function/active cochlear processes shown by OAEs and poor (complete absent) eight nerve/brainstem responses. Therefore, the site of origin for AN/AD is between the cochlea proper and the brainstem, with possible causes as injury to the synaptic junctions of the inner hair cells and/or the dendrites of the auditory nerve that receive neurotransmitters released by the inner hair cells, injury to the spiral ganglion, and/or damage to axons of cranial nerve VIII [4 5 6]. Further evidence of effects on neural function is demonstrated by generally absent or sometimes elevated middle-ear muscle reflexes [6]. Most AN/AD patients show bilateral symptoms. These patients show delayed or impaired development of speech and language [4 5].

In this study, we present an infant with Biotinidase deficiency who showed evidence of AN/AD. It could be suggested that Biotinidase deficiency possibly results in any impairment in neural synchronization of auditory system.

References

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