The need of masking in auditory brainstem response (ABR) evaluation is still considerably debated issue (Durrant and Ferraro, 2001). AIM: In addition, the present study was to investigate the need of masking in ABR with unilateral hearing loss. STUDY DESIGN: Clinical prospective. MATERIA AND METHOD: The sample was constituded of 22 persons with unilateral hearing loss, being 10 female and 12 male, ranging from 9 to 44 years old. All persons were submited to the following audiological exams: pure - tone and speech audiometry, accoustic impendance tests and audiometry brainstem response in absence and presence of masking. RESULTS: In general, all persons had profound sensorineural unilateral hearing loss and bilateral type - A tympanometric curves. In ABR evaluation, it was possible to observe in 100% of the sample the presence of wave V in poor ear. As soon as the masking was introduced, these waves has not been viewed. CONCLUSION: As might be expected that masking must be used with ABR evaluation on unilateral hearing loss to obtain authentical results. In ABR, interaural attenuation to clicks (65 dB) was greater the examined in pure-tone audiometry. Thence it follows that less intensity of masking was needed to eliminate the contralateral response.
hearing; auditory brainstem response; masking; unilateral hearing loss
