A preliminary investigation into the use of an auditory brainstem response (ABR) simulator for training audiology students in waveform analysis

Abstract

Objective: To determine if a computer simulation can be used to improve the ability of audiology students to analyse ABR waveforms. Design: A pretest-posttest, quasi-experimental design was used. All participants completed a pretraining examination of their ability to analyse ABR waveforms, eight hours of ABR analysis training over eight weeks using one of three training modes—manual, simulator or combined manual and simulator training, and a posttraining examination of their ability to analyse ABR waveforms. Study sample: Fourteen third-year audiology students (13 female, one male, aged 21 to 22 years) participated in this study. Results: Participants who completed the manual or the combined manual and simulator training achieved significantly higher normalized gain scores on their ABR waveform analysis examinations compared to those who completed the simulator training (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the improvements seen in the ability of these audiology students to analyse ABR waveforms were driven primarily by the manual training. The minimal improvements seen in the students who received the simulator training suggest that face-to-face instruction could be required to enhance the ability of audiology students to analyse ABR waveforms.

Key Words::

• Auditory brainstem response (ABR)
• simulator training
• computer-based simulation (CBS)
• ABR waveform analysis

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to acknowledge the International Islamic University of Malaysia Endowment fund for their financial support in conducting this study (grant number: EDW B0904-269 and EDW B12304-0782). Special thanks to Saiful Adli Jamaluddin and Nurlin Ali Hanafiah for their assistance in conducting this study. Part of this study has been presented at the XXII Biennial International Evoked Response Audiometry Study Group Symposium, Moscow 2011, Ibn Al-Haytham Millenial Anniversary Exhibition 2011, and IIUM Research, Invention and Innovation Exhibition 2012.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest.