Comparison of threshold estimation in infants with hearing loss or normal hearing using auditory steady-state response evoked by narrow band CE-chirps and auditory brainstem response evoked by tone pips

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study is to compare air-conduction thresholds obtained with ASSR evoked by narrow band (NB) CE-chirps and ABR evoked by tone pips (tpABR) in infants with various degrees of hearing loss. Design: Thresholds were measured at 500, 1000, 2000 and 4000 Hz. Data on each participant were collected at the same day. Study sample: Sixty-seven infants aged 4 d to 22 months (median age = 96 days), resulting in 57, 52, 87 and 56 ears for 500, 1000, 2000 and 4000 Hz, respectively. Results: Statistical analysis was performed for ears with hearing loss (HL) and showed a very strong correlation between tpABR and ASSR evoked by NB CE-chirps: 0.90 (n = 28), 0.90 (n = 28), 0.96 (n = 42) and 0.95 (n = 30) for 500, 1000, 2000 and 4000 Hz, respectively. At these frequencies, the mean difference between tpABR and ASSR was −3.6 dB (± 7.0), −5.2 dB (± 7.3), −3.9 dB (± 5.2) and −5.2 dB (± 4.7). Linear regression analysis indicated that the relationship was not influenced by the degree of hearing loss. Conclusion: We propose that dB nHL to dB eHL correction values for ASSR evoked by NB CE-chirps should be 5 dB lower than values used for tpABR.

Key Words:

• Auditory brainstem response
• auditory steady-state response
• tone pip
• narrow band chirp
• air-conduction threshold
• hearing loss
• infants

Acknowledgements

Preliminary data at 2000 Hz was presented as a poster at the XXIV Biennial Symposium of the International Evoked Response Audiometry Study Group, Busan, Korea, May 2015. An oral presentation based on complete data was made to the Newborn Hearing Screening conference, HEaring Across the Lifespan, Como, Italy, June 2016.

Declaration of interest

The authors report that they have no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper. This study was supported by a grant from the Oticon Foundation.

Notes

1. Single-frequency testing may be needed when testing an infant with a severe to profound hearing loss due to the high levels of stimulation that may be needed. Testing at 500 Hz could take longer.