Auditory steady-state response audiometry in children with severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss

Objective The aim of the study was to find out the predictive value of single monoticauditory steady- state response(ASSR) for hearing threshold estimation in children with severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss(SNHL). Methodology Forty-eight children (96 ears) with severe to profound SNHL were included in the present study, with age range 1-10 years. They were subjected to age-based audiologicalevaluation to estimate the behavioral thresholds. Single monoticASSR was performed for all children using test signals of 250, 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz, modulated in both ears at high rates of 67, 74, 81, 88, and 95 Hz, respectively, using GSI Audera-evoked potential system. ASSR thresholds were obtained and analyzed according to the equipment default criteria. Results The number and percentage of ASSR detected were highest at 1000 Hz then 500 Hz followed by 2000 Hz and were the least at 4000 and 250 Hz in all children. The ASSR thresholds obtained were statistically correlated with the behavioral pure tone audiometrythresholds at 500, 100, and 2000 Hz. A considerable number of ears with no sound field thresholds or click auditory brainstem responseresponses showed ASSR. Conclusion Single monoticASSR, with high modulation frequencies, has proven to be a reasonable method for estimating hearing sensitivity in the mid-conventional audiometric frequencies in children with severe to profound SNHL. Recommendations All children with no behavioral hearing threshold and/or absent click-evoked auditory brainstem responseshould be tested by ASSR at 500, 1000, and 2000 Hz to give information about the presence of useful residual hearing. ASSR can provide important information for use in the cochlear implant selection process