Brainstem Electric Responses and Electrocochleography: A Comparison of Threshold Sensitivities in Children

Abstract

Brainstem electric response (BSER) and electrocochleography (ECochG) thresholds were measured in 55 ears of 46 'difficult-to-test' children. In most cases there was a reasonably close correlation between the two tests with BSER being less sensitive on the whole, but there was a small group, clinically indistinguishable from the majority, in whom an unacceptable discrepancy occurred. It was found that where the BSER threshold was equal to or less than 30 dB, the ECochG thresholds confirmed normal hearing, whereas if it was more than 30 dB further objective testing was essential to establish a definitive diagnosis of a hearing loss.

Hearing threshold assessment in young children with electrocochleograpy (EcochG) and auditory brainstem responses (ABR): Experience at the University Hospital of Ferrara

“…ABR is a relatively simple test to perform and it can be considered the first choice in hearing assessment strategy, either for screening or for diagnosis with a good diagnostic reliability [7][8][9][10]. However, the diagnosis of hearing loss only on the basis of the presence or absence of wave V requires some care, as in our series, especially in case of suspected central auditory pathway lesions.…”

“…In this sense, ABR and EcochG offer the possibility to define the diagnosis of hearing loss: when a clear ABR response in absent, it is difficult to understand if it is a consequence of a cochlear damage, or of a central auditory dysfunction. Indeed, the EcochG offers a recording of the auditory nerve activity in a better S/N ratio [7,8]. Nonetheless, EcochG is a more expensive procedure which always requires general anesthesia in young children.…”