['Auditory nerve synapses in ventral cochlear nucleus end on two principal cell types, bushy and stellate cells. Although the effects of hearing loss on bushy cells have been well studied, little is known about the effects of hearing loss on synaptic input to the stellate cells. Based on prior observations in bushy cells, we hypothesized that noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) would decrease quantal release onto stellate cells.', 'Prospective, randomized animal study.', 'CBA/CaJ mice were exposed for 2 hours to 98 dB sound pressure level (SPL) 8- to 16-kHz noise to produce a temporary threshold shift (TTS) or 114 dB SPL to produce a permanent threshold shift (PTS). Spontaneous miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs) were then measured in stellate cells in brain slices of the cochlear nucleus.', 'Click auditory brainstem evoked response thresholds were elevated by 35 dB in both TTS and PTS mice. Spontaneous mEPSC frequency was found to be five-fold higher than normal in stellate cells of TTS mice and three-fold higher in PTS mice. The mEPSC amplitude was also larger in PTS mice. The mEPSC time course was not different between experimental and control groups.'] Does hearing loss alter quantal release at cochlear nucleus stellate cells?