Reliability of Electro-physiologically Evoked Auditory Steady State Responses

Abstract

The electrophysiological technique of auditory steady state responses (ASSR) makes possible objective hearing threshold definition, with frequency specificity. A high level of reliability is a basic requirement for applying this technique in a medicolegal context. 35 subjects affected by significant occupational noise induced hearing loss and claiming compensation underwent a thorough medical and audiological examination, including an analysis of the auditory steady state responses (ASSR) in order to objectively define hearing thresholds with frequency specificity, and ear-by-ear. In order to investigate the reproducibility of the thresholds obtained by this technique, the electrophysiological exploration was repeated immediately after the first test. An exhaustive statistical comparison of the results rejects the hypothesis of any significant difference between the results of both exams, whatever severity of hearing loss and frequency. All correlation coefficients (R and ICC) and Cronbach’s α values reach or exceed 0.9. Bland-Altman plots rule out systematic shifts, as well as proportional errors, or variations that depends on the magnitude of the measurements.