Estimation of the Pure-Tone Audiogram by the Auditory Brainstem Response: A Review

Abstract

This review paper briefly considers how stimulus, noise masking and recording parameters affect the frequency and place specificity of auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) to air- and bone-conducted stimuli. Issues concerning the use of clicks for ABR threshold estimates will first be presented, followed by results for tone-evoked ABR thresholds and how well they predict the pure-tone behavioral audiogram. Noise-masking options (e.g. high-pass noise, notched noise and white noise) to improve the frequency specificity of tone-evoked ABRs, which are now available on clinical ABR units, will also be discussed. The goal of this article is to demonstrate that ABRs to tonal stimuli can be successfully recorded in most clinical environments and can provide reasonably accurate estimates of 500-to 4000-Hz pure-tone behavioral thresholds in infants, children and adults. Specific parameters and protocols for obtaining frequency-specific ABR threshold responses are provided.

Comparison of hearing thresholds of patients with advanced, and very advanced sensorineural type hearing loss using tone-evoked ABR

“…[7,8] Besides studies performed have detected that response latency is prolonged in proportion with increased rise/fall times. [9][10][11] In our study, among patients with advanced hearing loss, number of recognizable waves increased without a marked prolongation of latency.…”

Effects of Bone Oscillator Coupling Method, Placement Location, and Occlusion on Bone-Conduction Auditory Steady-State Responses in Infants

“…1band to couple the bone oscillator to an infant's head when estimating bone-conduction thresholds using auditory-evoked potentials. That is, it has been suggested that it is not appropriate to hold the oscillator in place by hand (Cone-Wesson, 1995;Stapells, 2000;Stapells & Oates, 1997;Yang & Stuart, 2000;Yang et al, 1991). This is the first experiment that has actually compared the force levels applied to the bone oscillator when using the elastic-band and hand-held coupling methods.…”

Os efeitos da polaridade do estímulo nos Potenciais Evocados Auditivos de Tronco Encefálico

“…13 Wave V latency analysis obtained at 20 dBnHL differs significantly when condensation or alternating polarities are used (Table 5) and should thus be carefully analyzed.…”

“…Thus, analysis of the wave V latency-intensity function may provide information about the cause of hearing loss (conductive or sensorineural cochlear/retrocochlear), depending on the response. 13 Wave V latency may be normal when high intensity stimuli are presented, but may be abnormal when the intensity is decreased (in cochlear cases). At another moment, the wave V latency-intensity function may be completely shifted to the right of normal limits, and there may be conductive and retrocochlear losses.…”

“…At another moment, the wave V latency-intensity function may be completely shifted to the right of normal limits, and there may be conductive and retrocochlear losses. 13 The purpose of this study was to verify the influence of click polarity absolute and interpeak latencies of BAEP at different intensities, using insertion phones.…”