A group sequential test for ABR detection

Abstract

Objective: To detect the auditory brainstem response (ABR) automatically using an innovative sequentially applied Hotelling’s T ² test, with the overall goal of optimising test time whilst controlling the false-positive rate (FPR).

Design: The stage-wise critical decision boundaries for accepting or rejecting the null hypothesis were found using a new approach called the Convolutional Group Sequential Test (CGST). Specificity, sensitivity, and test time were evaluated using simulations and subject recorded data.

Study sample: Data consists of click-evoked ABR threshold series from 12 normal hearing adults, and recordings of EEG background activity from 17 normal hearing adults.

Results: Reductions in mean test time of up to 40–45% were observed for the sequential test, relative to a conventional “single shot” test where the statistical test is applied to the data just once. To obtain these results, it will occasionally be necessary to run the test to a higher number of stimuli, i.e. the maximum test time needs to be increased.

Conclusions: The CGST can be used to control the specificity of a sequentially applied ABR detection method. Doing so can reduce test time, relative to the “single shot” test, when considered across a cohort of test subjects.

Keywords:

• Sequential testing
• ABR detection
• objective detection methods
• Hotelling’s T2 test

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Sara M. K. Madsen for collecting the recordings of EEG background noise and Deborah A. Cane for collecting the ABR threshold series. The authors would also like to acknowledge the use of the IRIDIS High-Performance Computing Facility, and associated support services at the University of Southampton, in the completion of this work. The data used throughout this study are openly available at the University of Southampton repository at http://doi.org/10.5258/SOTON/D0168.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Oticon Foundation and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC, grant No. EP/M026728/1).