Problems in interpretation of brainstem-evoked response audiometry results.
This report describes 6 cases - 3 adults and 3 children - in which no response could be obtained during the brainstem-evoked response audiometry (ABR) examination. This, in spite of the fact that maximal click intensity was used during the test, and despite the patients' nearly normal hearing sensitivity. All of the cases presented a slight degree of neurological deficiency, which could explain the faulty synchronization of the biological response to clicks. Attention is drawn to the fact that lack of response in ABR in cases with central nervous system involvement is not necessarily proof of severe hearing loss, and could supply important diagnostic cues.
D000328:Adult; D001300:Audiometry, Evoked Response; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000503:physiopathology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005072:Evoked Potentials, Auditory; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male