Steady-state response audiometry in a group of patients with steeply sloping sensorineural hearing loss.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to examine the predictive value of auditory steady-state response (ASSR) evoked potential thresholds and predicted behavioral thresholds in a group of children with steeply sloping sensorineural hearing loss (HL).


METHODS
Case series.


METHODS
Twenty-nine children with sloping sensorineural HL underwent behavioral audiometric evaluation, impedance testing, distortion product otoacoustic emissions, and steady-state response testing. A t test was performed to compare the means of ASSR predicted behavioral thresholds and behavioral responses. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated at each tested frequency, 500 Hz, 1,000 Hz, 2,000 Hz, and 4,000 Hz, using the same data.


RESULTS
Bracketed thresholds were obtained at 500 Hz, 1,000 Hz, 2,000 Hz, and 4,000 Hz. Nineteen ears were used in this evaluation. A comparison of threshold difference as a function of bracketing revealed that the means were statistically different (P < .05). The mean threshold differences were calculated, and Pearson r values were determined between the behavioral thresholds and the predicted thresholds using the Rance 95 algorithm. The results revealed no difference of means at 500 Hz between predicted and measured behavioral thresholds. Linear regression analysis revealed strong correlation at 500 Hz, 1,000 Hz, and 2,000 Hz.


CONCLUSIONS
The GSI Audera appears to predict the configuration of HL in children with steeply sloping sensorineural HLs and over-predicts the severity of the loss by 15 to 20 dB above 500 Hz at each test frequency (1,000, 2,000, and 4,000 Hz). Correlation coefficients display a strong correlation at 500 Hz, 1,000 Hz, and 2,000 Hz.
Bobby R. Alford Department of Otolaryngology and Communicative Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
Charles
C
Ballay
Ross
R
Tonini
Terra
T
Waninger
Caroline
C
Yoon
Spiros
S
Manolidis
D000158:Acoustic Impedance Tests / Q000379:methods; D000293:Adolescent; D000465:Algorithms; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone / Q000379:methods*; D001309:Auditory Threshold / Q000502:physiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D004569:Electroencephalography; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem / Q000502:physiology; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D017084:Otoacoustic Emissions, Spontaneous / Q000502:physiology; D012018:Reflex / Q000502:physiology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013198:Stapedius / Q000502:physiology