Auditory steady-state evoked potentials (ASSEPs): a study of optimal stimulation parameters for frequency-specific threshold measurement in dogs.
OBJECTIVE
To define the optimal stimulation parameters (AM/FM vs AM alone and modulation rate) for frequency-specific threshold measurements using ASSEPs in dogs. Dependent variables were thresholds and recording times needed to obtain a response at threshold. To compare the ASSEP threshold results obtained with the optimal stimulation parameters to those obtained with the Tone-Burst/Auditory Brainstem Response (TB/ABR) combination.


METHODS
Thirty-two sedated Beagle puppies were tested at 5 audiometric frequencies (0.5-8 kHz) and 6 ASSEP modulation rates (21-199 Hz).


RESULTS
The ASSEP threshold-modulation rate functions had a high-pass profile with corner frequencies of 101 Hz for 0.5, 1 and 2 kHz carriers and of 151 Hz for 4 and 8 kHz carriers. AM stimuli did not yield higher thresholds than the AM/FM ones except at 1 kHz. Modulation type had no effect on testing duration. Audiometric profiles were obtained much more rapidly with ASSEPs than with TB/ABRs (mean: 50 vs 135 min). Both ASSEP and TB/ABR provided thresholds estimates characterized by low intersubject variability.


CONCLUSIONS
ASSEPs are a valid and rapid method for audiometric assessment in sedated dogs.


CONCLUSIONS
ASSEPs offer a new, competitive tool for frequency-specific assessment of hearing in the canine species.
Markessis
Emily
E
Faculté de Médecine, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgium. emarkess@ulb.ac.be
Poncelet
Luc
L
Colin
Cécile
C
Coppens
Angélique
A
Hoonhorst
Ingrid
I
Deggouj
Naima
N
Deltenre
Paul
P
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000818:Animals; D001300:Audiometry, Evoked Response / Q000379:methods; D001309:Auditory Threshold / Q000502:physiology*; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000502:physiology*; D004285:Dogs; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male