It’s NOT auditory neuropathy?
Cathy has been talking with a Dr. Shallop at the Mayo in Minnesota. He is one of the leading experts in auditory neuropathy and cochlear implants. She faxed him Maria’s latest ABR results and he thinks what Maria has is not auditory neuropathy.
Maria’s former audiologist said he had never seen an ABR signal like hers, but Dr. Shallop said he’s seen it often. He said it’s a fairly typical signal associated with hydrocephalus. Maria obviously has a hearing problem so I’m confused as to what he thinks it is, but I think he’s saying the problem is in her brain rather than the auditory nerve. This means the implant would do absolutely nothing.
There is a guy at the Mayo here in Phoenix who would be a good local resource so I believe Cathy is going to try to get Maria in to see him.
We just got back from Thanksgiving in Albuquerque. Maria did pretty well out there. She got a really bad cough but I think it was from the cold, dry air.
Tomorrow we go to Salt Lake to have Maria evaluated at Shriners Hospital.