Auditory steady-state response and behavioral avaluation in children between 6 to 48 monhts of age

ABSTRACT

Purpose

The objective of the following study was to verify how the thresholds obtained by ASSR can estimate the thresholds obtained by the VRA in children with normal hearing and hearing loss of different degrees.

Methods

Were evaluated 41 children of both sex (28 boys and 13 girls), on ages between 18 and 48 months. The thresholds were obtained with ASSR with multiple and simultaneous stimulation on frequencies of 500, 1000, 2000 and 4000Hz. The thresholds were obtained with VRA on each ear separately on frequencies of 500, 1000, 2000 and 4000Hz. Were evaluated 82 ears, 20 with normal hearing and 62 with hearing loss. The correlation between the thresholds was calculated.

Results

The findings of this study demonstrate that the thresholds didn’t have a statistic relevant relation with variables of age and sex. Considering the mean, the eletrophysiological thresholds were higher than the behavioral. These findings suggest ASSR can determinate hearing thresholds objectively and with a high correlation with psychoacoustic thresholds obtained by the behavioral method.

Conclusion

We recommend, however that another Brazilian studies be made, so it can be established a minimum criteria necessary for the planning and application of pattern protocols, contributing with diagnostic validation of ASSR technique.

Keywords:
Hearing; Hearing loss; Audiometry evoked responses; Audiometry pure-tone; Child