The relationship between auditory steady state response (ASSR) derived thresholds as compared to behavioral auditory thresholds in patients diagnosed with auditory neuropathy/auditory sys-synchrony (AN/AD) has not been previously explored in detail. AN/AD typically presents with very poor word recognition scores (WRS) in quiet, worse WRS results in noise, absent acoustic reflexes, present otoacoustic emissions and absent auditory brainstem response (ABR).
Jafari et al (2009) compared behavioral pure-tone auditory thresholds (PTAT) to thresholds derived via ASSR in adult patients previously diagnosed with AN/AD. Sixteen subjects (32 ears) between the ages of 14 and 34 years participated.
The behavioral thresholds revealed (on average) a moderate sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) with a trend toward low-frequency hearing loss in approximately two-thirds of the subjects. ASSR derived thresholds were substantially worse and there were no statistically significant correlations between the two threshold measures (behavioral and ASSR) at 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz.
The authors stated that ASSR is not suitable for estimating hearing thresholds in patients with AN/AD.
For More Information, References, Recommendations
Jafari Z, Malayeri S, Ashayeri H, Farrahani MA. (2009) Adults with Auditory Neuropathy: Comparison of Auditory Steady State Response and Pure Tone Audiometry. Journal of the American Academy of Audiology. 20(10):621-628.
Beck DL, Speidel, DP, Petrak M. (2007) Auditory Steady-State Response (ASSR): A Beginner's Guide. Hearing Review. November.
Beck DL, Speidel DP, Craig JG. (2009) Developments in Auditory Steady-State Responses (ASSR). Hearing Review. August.