title: Binaural interaction in the auditory brainstem response: a normative study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Binaural interaction can be investigated using auditory evoked potentials. A binaural interaction component can be derived from the auditory brainstem response (ABR-BIC) and is considered evidence for binaural interaction at the level of the brainstem. Although click ABR-BIC has been investigated thoroughly, data on 500 Hz tone-burst (TB) ABR-BICs are scarce. In this study, characteristics of click and 500 Hz TB ABR-BICs are described. Furthermore, reliability of both click and 500 Hz TB ABR-BIC are investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen normal hearing young adults (eight women, ten men) were included. ABRs were recorded in response to clicks and 500 Hz TBs. ABR-BICs were derived by subtracting the binaural response from the sum of the monaural responses measured in opposite ears.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Good inter-rater reliability is obtained for both click and 500 Hz TB ABR-BICs. The most reliable peak in click ABR-BIC occurs at a mean latency of 6.06 ms (SD 0.354 ms). Reliable 500 Hz TB ABR-BIC are obtained with a mean latency of 9.47 ms (SD 0.678 ms). Amplitudes are larger for 500 Hz TB ABR-BIC than for clicks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The most reliable peak in click ABR-BIC occurs at the downslope of wave V. Five hundred Hertz TB ABR-BIC is characterized by a broad positivity occurring at the level of wave V.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ABR-BIC is a useful technique to investigate binaural interaction in certain populations. Examples are bilateral hearing aid users, bilateral cochlear implant users and bimodal listeners. The latter refers to the combination of unilateral cochlear implantation and contralateral residual hearing. The majority of these patients have residual hearing in the low frequencies. The current study suggests that 500 Hz TB ABR-BIC may be a suitable technique to assess binaural interaction in this specific population of cochlear implant users.
authors.affiliation: Ghent University, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: Lindsey.VanYper@uzgent.be.
authors.forename: Lindsey N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Van Yper
authors.affiliation: Thomas More, Speech-Language Therapy and Audiology, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Katrien
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vermeire
authors.affiliation: Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Eddy F J
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: De Vel
authors.affiliation: Center for Clinical Technology Research, Unfallkrankenhaus, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Rolf-Dieter
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Battmer
authors.affiliation: Ghent University, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Ghent, Belgium; Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Ingeborg J M
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Dhooge
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001307:Auditory Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000502:physiology*; D005072:Evoked Potentials, Auditory / Q000502:physiology*; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006309:Hearing / Q000502:physiology; D006320:Hearing Tests / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: ABR; Auditory brainstem response; Binaural difference wave; Binaural interaction component; Normal