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Abstract
The reliability of the Auditory Steady State Response (ASSR) has not been thoroughly evaluated despite its recent application as a clinical tool for threshold estimation. The purpose of this study was to examine test-retest (TR) reliability of ASSR threshold estimates in an empirical research design. The ASSR, tested using modulation frequencies approximately 80 Hz and above, was evaluated against pure tone audiometry (PTA), and the slow vertex potential (SVP, N1-P2). Sixteen normal-hearing young female adults were tested twice, one week apart. Varying degrees of sensorineural hearing loss of a notched configuration were simulated with filtered masking noise. Test-retest reliability was assessed using Pearson-product moment correlation analysis, supplemented by other post-hoc analyses. Results demonstrated moderately strong TR reliability for ASSR at 1000, 2000 and 4000 Hz (r = 0.83–0.93); however, the reliability of ASSR at 500 Hz was weaker (r = 0.75). Results suggest that ASSR-ERA is a reliable test at mid–high frequencies, at least with the configuration and degrees of simulated sensorineural hearing loss examined in this study.
| Acronyms | ||
| ABR | = | Auditory brain stem response |
| AEPs | = | Auditory evoked potentials |
| AM | = | Amplitude modulation |
| ASSR | = | Auditory steady-state response |
| ERA | = | Electric response audiometry |
| Fc | = | Carrier frequency |
| FFT | = | Fast Fourier transform |
| FM | = | Frequency modulation |
| FFR | = | Frequency-following response |
| ICCs | = | Intraclass correlation coefficients |
| MM | = | Mixed modulation |
| PTA | = | Pure-tone audiometry |
| SSNHL | = | Simulated sensorineural hearing loss |
| SVP | = | Slow vertex potentials |
| TR | = | Test retest |
| VDL | = | Visual detection limit |
| Acronyms | ||
| ABR | = | Auditory brain stem response |
| AEPs | = | Auditory evoked potentials |
| AM | = | Amplitude modulation |
| ASSR | = | Auditory steady-state response |
| ERA | = | Electric response audiometry |
| Fc | = | Carrier frequency |
| FFT | = | Fast Fourier transform |
| FM | = | Frequency modulation |
| FFR | = | Frequency-following response |
| ICCs | = | Intraclass correlation coefficients |
| MM | = | Mixed modulation |
| PTA | = | Pure-tone audiometry |
| SSNHL | = | Simulated sensorineural hearing loss |
| SVP | = | Slow vertex potentials |
| TR | = | Test retest |
| VDL | = | Visual detection limit |
Sumario
La confiabilidad de las Respuestas Auditiva de Estado Estable (ASSR) no ha sido exhaustivamente evaluada a pesar de su reciente aplicación como herramienta clínica para la estimación de umbrales. El propósito de este estudio fue examinar la confiabilidad test-retest (TR) de las estimaciones de umbrales por ASSR con un diseño empírico de investigación. Las ASSR, evaluadas usando frecuencias con modulación de 80 Hz o más, fue comparada con la audiometría de tonos puros (PTA) y con los potenciales lentos del vértex (SVP; N1-P2). Se evaluaron dieciséis sujetos masculinos normo-oyentes, dos veces, con una semana de separación. Se simularon varios grados de hipoacusia sensorineural con configuración de muesca usando un ruido enmascarante filtrado. La confiabilidad TR se evaluó usando el análisis de correlación producto-momento de Pearson, complementado por otros análisis post-hoc. Los resultados demostraron una confiabilidad del TR moderadamente buena para las ASSR a 1000, 2000 y 4000 Hz (r = 0.83 – 0.93); sin embargo, las confiabilidad de las ASSR a 500 Hz fue más débil (r = 0.75). Los resultados sugieren que la combinación ASSR-ERA es confiable en el rango medio-alto de frecuencias, al menos con la configuración y los grados de hipoacusia simulada que se examinaron en este estudio.