title: Sensitivity and specificity of auditory steady-state response testing.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The ASSR test is an electrophysiological test that evaluates, among other aspects, neural synchrony, based on the frequency or amplitude modulation of tones.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of auditory steady-state response testing in detecting lesions and dysfunctions of the central auditory nervous system.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy volunteers were divided into three groups: those with normal hearing; those with mesial temporal sclerosis; and those with central auditory processing disorder. All subjects underwent auditory steady-state response testing of both ears at 500 Hz and 2000 Hz (frequency modulation, 46 Hz). The difference between auditory steady-state response-estimated thresholds and behavioral thresholds (audiometric evaluation) was calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Estimated thresholds were significantly higher in the mesial temporal sclerosis group than in the normal and central auditory processing disorder groups. In addition, the difference between auditory steady-state response-estimated and behavioral thresholds was greatest in the mesial temporal sclerosis group when compared to the normal group than in the central auditory processing disorder group compared to the normal group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Research focusing on central auditory nervous system (CANS) lesions has shown that individuals with CANS lesions present a greater difference between ASSR-estimated thresholds and actual behavioral thresholds; ASSR-estimated thresholds being significantly worse than behavioral thresholds in subjects with CANS insults. This is most likely because the disorder prevents the transmission of the sound stimulus from being in phase with the received stimulus, resulting in asynchronous transmitter release. Another possible cause of the greater difference between the ASSR-estimated thresholds and the behavioral thresholds is impaired temporal resolution.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The overall sensitivity of auditory steady-state response testing was lower than its overall specificity. Although the overall specificity was high, it was lower in the central auditory processing disorder group than in the mesial temporal sclerosis group. Overall sensitivity was also lower in the central auditory processing disorder group than in the mesial temporal sclerosis group.
authors: Department of Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy and Occupational Therapy, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. cmrabelo@yahoo.com.br
authors: Camila Maia
authors: CM
authors: Rabelo
authors: Eliane
authors: E
authors: Schochat
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001300:Audiometry, Evoked Response / Q000379:methods*; D001304:Auditory Diseases, Central / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001309:Auditory Threshold / Q000502:physiology*; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005072:Evoked Potentials, Auditory / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012372:ROC Curve; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012598:Sclerosis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult