Pure Word Deafness in a Patient with Early-Onset Alzheimer's Disease: An Unusual Presentation.

Author: Sook Hui KIM ¹ ; Mee Kyung SUH ; Sang Won SEO ; Juhee CHIN ; Seol Heui HAN ; Duk L NA
Author Information

1. Department of Neurology, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Konkuk University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Publication Type:Case Report
Keywords: pure word deafness; Alzheimer's disease; primary progressive aphasia
MeSH: Alzheimer Disease; Aphasia, Primary Progressive; Deafness; Humans; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Neuroimaging
From:Journal of Clinical Neurology 2011;7(4):227-230
CountryRepublic of Korea
Language:English
Abstract: BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The occurrence of PWD in neurodegenerative disease is very rare, and this is the first report of it being related to early-onset AD. We describe a patient with early-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD) who presented with pure word deafness (PWD). CASE REPORT: The patient had experienced PWD for 2 years, followed by other cognitive deficits suggestive of parietotemporal dysfunction. Brain imaging including 18FDG-PET and [11C] PIB-PET supported the diagnosis of AD. CONCLUSIONS: Our case highlights the clinical variability that characterizes early-onset AD.