Automated detection of auditory response: non-detection stopping criterion and repeatability studies for multichannel EEG

Abstract

An Auditory Steady-State Response (ASSR) is a valuable tool for determining auditory thresholds in individuals who are either unable or unwilling to cooperate with conventional behavioral testing methods. This study proposes a sequential test technique for automatic detection of ASSRs, incorporating a non-detection stopping criterion. The electrophysiological thresholds of a normal hearing volunteer were established using data collected from multichannel EEG signals. The detection probabilities and critical values were obtained via Monte Carlo simulations. Remarkably, application of the non-detection stopping criterion resulted in a 60% reduction in exam time in the absence of a response. These findings clearly demonstrate the significant potential of the sequential test in enhancing the performance of automatic audiometry.

Keywords:

• Evoked response audiometry
• electroencephalogram
• auditory steady-state response
• multiple magnitude-squared coherence

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico (Grant numbers: 308156/2013-7 and 306499/2018-5) e Tecnológico and the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (Finance Code 001).