It is known that autism is often accompanied by hyperacusis.However, the cause has not been clarified so far.The research group of the Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, approached this mechanism for the first time in the world.
Autism is a natural developmental disorder, mainly with symptoms such as communication disorders and social disorders.Interviews are used for diagnosis, but the judgment may differ depending on the doctor, and there is a lack of accuracy.The research group noted that autistic patients often exhibit sound sensitivity (hypersensitivity) as more user-friendly interview items are required.
The research group found an abnormality in nerve cells in the trapezoidal nucleus, which is a pathway that suppresses sound transmission, in the brain of autism model rats.It was presumed that the sound signal was not properly suppressed, resulting in excessive sound transmission, that is, hyperacusis.This discovery is the first in the world.
In addition, since the trapezoidal nucleus also plays a role in determining the direction in which sound is heard, it is possible to accurately diagnose autism, which was difficult, with the question item "Is the direction in which sound is heard correctly recognized?" become.It is expected to be an effective method as a new diagnostic method for distinguishing autism without using special medical equipment or drugs.
Paper information:[Pediatrics International] Mechanism of auditory hypersensitivity in human autism using autism model rats (English)
