Multiple-stimulus method for rapid collection of auditory brainstem responses using high-frequency (> or = 8 kHz) tone bursts.
Auditory brainstem responses (ABR) to high-frequency (> or = 8 kHz) tone-burst stimuli have shown potential for objective early detection of ototoxicity. In the case of ill, unresponsive, or otherwise difficult-to-test individuals, the patient group for whom this test is targeted, a threshold-seeking process can be too lengthy. A new method is described for obtaining responses to several high-frequency tone bursts in the same amount of time as that used in obtaining a single responses. Using 10 normal-hearing subjects, four high-frequency tone-burst stimuli (14, 12, 10, and 8 kHz) were presented singly, then in a multiple-stimulus sequence with onsets separated by 10 msec. Wave V response latencies from the multiple-stimulus sequences are compared to those presented singly, with small but statistically significant longer latencies observed for all stimuli following the initial stimulus (14 kHz) in the multiple sequence. Test-retest reliability was comparable between multiple and single conditions. These findings support the development of this technique for clinical auditory monitoring.
Fausti
S A
SA
Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Portland VA Medical Center, PVAMC, OR 97207.
Mitchell
C R
CR
Frey
R H
RH
Henry
J A
JA
O'Connor
J L
JL
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001307:Auditory Perception; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011930:Reaction Time; D015203:Reproducibility of Results