title: Comparison of auditory brainstem response peak measures using ear lobe, mastoid, and custom ear canal reference electrodes.
abstract: Auditory brainstem response (ABR) peak measures were compared for a custom ear canal electrode and traditional mastoid and ear lobe reference electrode sites with the assumption that the ear canal electrode would yield larger Wave I amplitudes. In this study, Waves I, III, and V latencies and amplitudes were measured and compared in twenty participants between the ages of 18 and 50, with particular interest in a potential Wave I advantage using the custom ear canal reference electrode. The statistical analysis suggested that all reference electrode sites yielded comparable results with no statistical differences in peak latency or peak-to-trough amplitude for Waves I, III, and V. Although the custom ear canal electrode did not produce larger Wave I amplitudes over the other two references, a deeper placement of the ear canal electrode might have yielded different results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology, University of Arkansas at Little Rock and University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences;
authors.forename: Samuel R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Atcherson
authors.affiliation: Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology, University of Arkansas at Little Rock and University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences;
authors.forename: Timothy J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, AR, USA.
authors.forename: Page C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.affiliation: Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology, University of Arkansas at Little Rock and University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences;
authors.forename: Carlos P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Minaya
keywords: auditory brainstem response; ear canal; reference electrode; wave I.