title: Use of auditory steady-state responses in children and comparison with other electrophysiological and behavioral tests.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In patients who cannot or will not cooperate in behavioral hearing assessment, electrophysiological examinations are used, but are time-consuming because the subject has to remain immobile. The aim of this study was to assess whether auditory steady-state responses (ASSR) are sufficiently reliable, compared to auditory brainstem responses (ABR) and free-field audiometry, for assessment to begin with ASSR instead of ABR.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study was performed between January 2012 and April 2013, including children less than 6 years of age who could not be tested via headphones. ASSR and ABR were measured during natural sleep or under phenobarbital-alimemazine sedation. Subjective pure-tone audiometry was performed, using the visual reinforcement audiometry method, in 69 children who were able and willing to cooperate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 175 children were included. ASSR and ABR thresholds showed good positive correlation (338 ears; Pearson's correlation coefficient, 0.87). Behavioral thresholds correlated significantly with ASSR thresholds (Student t-test for matched series; P<0.05). ASSR thresholds were usually better than behavioral thresholds, with a difference of 8-15dB HL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ASSR is reliable in children under 6 years of age, and should be performed before ABR when hearing threshold rather than latency is to be determined.
authors: Service d'ORL et Chirurgie Cervico-Faciale, Hôpital Robert-Debré, 48, boulevard Sérurier, 75019 Paris, France. Electronic address: martine.francois@rdb.aphp.fr.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: François
authors: Service d'ORL et Chirurgie Cervico-Faciale, Hôpital Robert-Debré, 48, boulevard Sérurier, 75019 Paris, France.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Dehan
authors: Service d'ORL et Chirurgie Cervico-Faciale, Hôpital Robert-Debré, 48, boulevard Sérurier, 75019 Paris, France.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Carlevan
authors: Service d'ORL et Chirurgie Cervico-Faciale, Hôpital Robert-Debré, 48, boulevard Sérurier, 75019 Paris, France.
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Dumont
mesh_terms: D001300:Audiometry, Evoked Response; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D000067290:Behavior Rating Scale; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005072:Evoked Potentials, Auditory; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: Audiometry; Auditory brainstem response; Auditory steady-state response; Child; Hearing loss