Skip to main content
Top
Published in: Neurological Sciences 7/2020

01-07-2020 | Magnetic Resonance Imaging | Original Article

The impact of white matter hyperintensities on speech perception

Authors: Arianna Di Stadio, Daniela Messineo, Massimo Ralli, Dalila Roccamatisi, Angela Musacchio, Giampietro Ricci, Antonio Greco

Published in: Neurological Sciences | Issue 7/2020

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

The presence of white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) can impact on normal brain function by altering normal signal transmission and determining different symptoms.

Aim

To evaluate the relationship between the presence of brain WMHs and the scores of speech perception test (SPT) in a sample of normal-hearing patients under 70 years of age.

Material and method

Prospective study. One hundred eleven patients underwent audiological screening with pure tone audiometry (PTA), tympanometry, speech perception testing (SPT), and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). T2 sequences were analyzed to identify the presence of WMH that, if identified, were scored using the Fazekas score. Statistical multiple regression analysis was performed to understand the relationship between PTA and SPT score; the Pearson's and Spearman's tests were used to evaluate the correlation between Fazekas scores and SPT. Chi-square test was used to analyze the difference between gender.

Results

The results of PTA were not predictive of the SPT score. A negative statistically significant correlation (Spearman's, p = 0.0001; Pearson's, p < 0.001) was identified between the Fazekas score and the results of SPT. No statistically significant differences were identified in the correlation of WMH and SPT between males and females.

Conclusion

Multiple WMHs in the brain can worsen word recognition in patients with normal auditory threshold; this may be related to the impact that these lesions have on the memory ability. Spread of lesions into the brain might reduce the brain capacity to remember words, despite the sound is correctly perceived by the ear.
Literature
1.
go back to reference Altamura C, Scrascia F, Quattrocchi CC, Errante Y, Gangemi E, Curcio G, Ursini F, Silvestrini M, Maggio P, Beomonte Zobel B, Rossini PM, Pasqualetti P, Falsetti L, Vernieri F (2016) Regional MRI diffusion, white-matter hyperintensities, and cognitive function in Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia. J Clin Neurol 12:201–208. https://doi.org/10.3988/jcn.2016.12.2.20CrossRef Altamura C, Scrascia F, Quattrocchi CC, Errante Y, Gangemi E, Curcio G, Ursini F, Silvestrini M, Maggio P, Beomonte Zobel B, Rossini PM, Pasqualetti P, Falsetti L, Vernieri F (2016) Regional MRI diffusion, white-matter hyperintensities, and cognitive function in Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia. J Clin Neurol 12:201–208. https://​doi.​org/​10.​3988/​jcn.​2016.​12.​2.​20CrossRef
2.
go back to reference Datta G, Colasanti A, Rabiner EA, Gunn RN, Malik O, Ciccarelli O, Nicholas R, Van Vlierberghe E, Van Hecke W, Searle G, Santos-Ribeiro A, Matthews PM (2017) Neuroinflammation and its relationship to changes in brain volume and white matter lesions in multiple sclerosis. Brain. 140:2927–2938. https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awx22CrossRef Datta G, Colasanti A, Rabiner EA, Gunn RN, Malik O, Ciccarelli O, Nicholas R, Van Vlierberghe E, Van Hecke W, Searle G, Santos-Ribeiro A, Matthews PM (2017) Neuroinflammation and its relationship to changes in brain volume and white matter lesions in multiple sclerosis. Brain. 140:2927–2938. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1093/​brain/​awx22CrossRef
3.
go back to reference Vernooij MW, Ikram MA, Tanghe HL, Vincent AJ, Hofman A, Krestin GP, Niessen WJ, Breteler MM, van der Lugt A (2007) Incidental findings on brain MRI in the general population. N Engl J Med 357(18):1821–1828CrossRef Vernooij MW, Ikram MA, Tanghe HL, Vincent AJ, Hofman A, Krestin GP, Niessen WJ, Breteler MM, van der Lugt A (2007) Incidental findings on brain MRI in the general population. N Engl J Med 357(18):1821–1828CrossRef
5.
go back to reference Braffman BH, Zimmerman RA, Trojanowski JQ, Gonatas NK, Hickey WF, Schlaepfer WW (1988) Brain MR: pathologic correlation with gross and histopathology. Hyperintense white-matter foci in the elderly. AJR Am J Roentgenol 151:559–566CrossRef Braffman BH, Zimmerman RA, Trojanowski JQ, Gonatas NK, Hickey WF, Schlaepfer WW (1988) Brain MR: pathologic correlation with gross and histopathology. Hyperintense white-matter foci in the elderly. AJR Am J Roentgenol 151:559–566CrossRef
8.
go back to reference Di Stadio A, Dipietro L, Toffano R, Burgio F, De Lucia A, Ippolito V, Garofalo S, Ricci G, Martines F, Trabalzini F, Della Volpe A (2018) Working memory function in children with single side deafness using a bone-anchored hearing implant: a case-control study. Audiol Neurootol 23:238–244. https://doi.org/10.1159/000493722CrossRef Di Stadio A, Dipietro L, Toffano R, Burgio F, De Lucia A, Ippolito V, Garofalo S, Ricci G, Martines F, Trabalzini F, Della Volpe A (2018) Working memory function in children with single side deafness using a bone-anchored hearing implant: a case-control study. Audiol Neurootol 23:238–244. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1159/​000493722CrossRef
10.
go back to reference Marslen-Wilson WD, Tyler LK (1981) Central process in speech understanding. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B 295:317–332CrossRef Marslen-Wilson WD, Tyler LK (1981) Central process in speech understanding. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B 295:317–332CrossRef
12.
13.
go back to reference Fazekas F, Chawluk JB, Alavi A, Hurtig HI, Zimmerman RA (1987) MR signal abnormalities at 1.5 T in Alzheimer’s dementia and normal aging. AJR Am J Roentgenol 149:351–356CrossRef Fazekas F, Chawluk JB, Alavi A, Hurtig HI, Zimmerman RA (1987) MR signal abnormalities at 1.5 T in Alzheimer’s dementia and normal aging. AJR Am J Roentgenol 149:351–356CrossRef
15.
go back to reference Katz J (2014). Handbook of clinical audiology. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins; 7th international edition edition Katz J (2014). Handbook of clinical audiology. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins; 7th international edition edition
17.
go back to reference Goswami U (2012) Phonological representation. In: Seel NM (ed) Encyclopedia of the sciences of learning. Springer, Boston, MA Goswami U (2012) Phonological representation. In: Seel NM (ed) Encyclopedia of the sciences of learning. Springer, Boston, MA
23.
go back to reference Merchant SS, Nadol JB (2010) Schuknecht’s pathology of the ear. PMPH, USA Merchant SS, Nadol JB (2010) Schuknecht’s pathology of the ear. PMPH, USA
26.
go back to reference Amos NE, Humes LE (2007) Contribution of high frequencies to speech recognition in quiet and noise in listeners with varying degrees of high-frequency sensorineural hearing loss. J Speech Lang Hear Res. 50:819–834CrossRef Amos NE, Humes LE (2007) Contribution of high frequencies to speech recognition in quiet and noise in listeners with varying degrees of high-frequency sensorineural hearing loss. J Speech Lang Hear Res. 50:819–834CrossRef
31.
go back to reference Centonze D, Muzio L, Rossi S, Cavasinni F, De Chiara V, Bergami A, Musella A, D'Amelio M, Cavallucci V, Martorana A, Bergamaschi A, Cencioni MT, Diamantini A, Butti E, Comi G, Bernardi G, Cecconi F, Battistini L, Furlan R, Martino G (2009) Inflammation triggers synaptic alteration and degeneration in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. J Neurosci 29:3442–3452. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5804-08.2009CrossRef Centonze D, Muzio L, Rossi S, Cavasinni F, De Chiara V, Bergami A, Musella A, D'Amelio M, Cavallucci V, Martorana A, Bergamaschi A, Cencioni MT, Diamantini A, Butti E, Comi G, Bernardi G, Cecconi F, Battistini L, Furlan R, Martino G (2009) Inflammation triggers synaptic alteration and degeneration in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. J Neurosci 29:3442–3452. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1523/​JNEUROSCI.​5804-08.​2009CrossRef
32.
go back to reference de Leeuw FE, de Groot JC, Achten E, Oudkerk M, Ramos LM, Heijboer R, Hofman A, Jolles J, van Gijn J, Breteler MM (2001) Prevalence of cerebral white matter lesions in elderly people: a population based magnetic resonance imaging study. The Rotterdam Scan Study. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 70:9–14CrossRef de Leeuw FE, de Groot JC, Achten E, Oudkerk M, Ramos LM, Heijboer R, Hofman A, Jolles J, van Gijn J, Breteler MM (2001) Prevalence of cerebral white matter lesions in elderly people: a population based magnetic resonance imaging study. The Rotterdam Scan Study. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 70:9–14CrossRef
33.
go back to reference Branco M, Ruano L, Portaccio E, Goretti B, Niccolai C, Patti F, Chisari C, Gallo P, Grossi P, Ghezzi A, Roscio M, Mattioli F, Bellomi F, Simone M, Viterbo RG, Amato MP (2019) Aging with multiple sclerosis: prevalence and profile of cognitive impairment. Neurol Sci 40(8):1651–1657. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-019-03875-7CrossRef Branco M, Ruano L, Portaccio E, Goretti B, Niccolai C, Patti F, Chisari C, Gallo P, Grossi P, Ghezzi A, Roscio M, Mattioli F, Bellomi F, Simone M, Viterbo RG, Amato MP (2019) Aging with multiple sclerosis: prevalence and profile of cognitive impairment. Neurol Sci 40(8):1651–1657. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1007/​s10072-019-03875-7CrossRef
34.
go back to reference Samson Y, Belin P, Thivard L, Boddaert N, Crozier S, Zilbovicius M (2001) Auditory perception and language: functional imaging of speech sensitive auditory cortex. Rev Neurol (Paris) 157(8–9 Pt 1):837–846 Samson Y, Belin P, Thivard L, Boddaert N, Crozier S, Zilbovicius M (2001) Auditory perception and language: functional imaging of speech sensitive auditory cortex. Rev Neurol (Paris) 157(8–9 Pt 1):837–846
40.
go back to reference Fujishima M, Ibayashi S, Fujii K, Mori S (1995) Cerebral blood flow and brain function in hypertension. Hypertens Res 18:111–117CrossRef Fujishima M, Ibayashi S, Fujii K, Mori S (1995) Cerebral blood flow and brain function in hypertension. Hypertens Res 18:111–117CrossRef
41.
go back to reference Martín MG, Pfrieger F, Dotti CG (2014) Cholesterol in brain disease: sometimes determinant and frequently implicated. EMBO Rep 15:1036–1052CrossRef Martín MG, Pfrieger F, Dotti CG (2014) Cholesterol in brain disease: sometimes determinant and frequently implicated. EMBO Rep 15:1036–1052CrossRef
Metadata
Title
The impact of white matter hyperintensities on speech perception
Authors
Arianna Di Stadio
Daniela Messineo
Massimo Ralli
Dalila Roccamatisi
Angela Musacchio
Giampietro Ricci
Antonio Greco
Publication date
01-07-2020
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
Neurological Sciences / Issue 7/2020
Print ISSN: 1590-1874
Electronic ISSN: 1590-3478
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-020-04295-8

Other articles of this Issue 7/2020

Neurological Sciences 7/2020 Go to the issue