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20Q: Cochlear Synaptopathy - Interrupting Communication from Ear to Brain

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1.  Cochlear synapses are: Cortical structures that provide temporal coding information highly-specialized structures that support the transfer of information from inner hair cells (IHCs) to type I auditory nerve fibers (ANFs) primarily involved in the acoustic reflex to ensure incoming sound does not damage intracochlear structures all of the above

2.  Synaptopathy refers to: neural sprouting loss of cochlear synapses audiometric threshold worsening due to noise exposure loss of inner hair cells

3.  Research has shown synaptopathy is associated with: noise exposure aging genetic mutation all of the above

4.  Loss of synapses: occurs after hair cell loss always results in poorer thresholds on an audiogram only occurs when there is a Permanent Threshold Shift (PTS) occurs before hair cell loss

5.  Synaptopathic ears: always show a decline in DPOAEs may not show a decline in DPOAEs have absent DPOAEs show improvement in DPOAEs compared to pre-synaptopathy

6.  Hidden hearing loss refers to: patients with hearing loss who hide their hearing loss for fear of stigma Hearing loss on an audiogram with no functional manifestations Borderline hearing thresholds in the 15 dB HL to 30 dB HL range noise-induced or age-related cochlear synaptopathy that may not show immediate elevation of electrophysiological or behavioral thresholds yet has perceptual consequences

7.  To directly study cochlear synaptopathy in humans, investigators use: temporal bone studies ABR MRI Intratympanic injection and CT imaging

8.  Much of the research to date on cochlear synaptopathy has been conducted using: computer simulations mice and animal models human subjects meta analysis

9.  Cochlear synaptopathy research may potentially have future implications for: helping to explain why some people with a normal audiogram report trouble hearing in noise helping to explain why people with the same audiogram perform differently on audiological testing informing new criteria for hearing prevention programs all of the above

10.  Which of the following statements is true, based upon the article? cochlear synaptopathy is likely widespread in humans, but much work is yet to be done to further understand it and use the information in audiology clinical care. we will likely have clinical assessments and treatments for synaptopathy in the next 1-2 years. FDA clinical trials are currently underway for gene therapies to treat cochlear synaptopathy. cochlear synaptopathy is not likely widespread in humans due to humans' superior immune and regenerative systems as compared to animals.