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[Correlation of subjective and objective methods of evaluating hearing threshold]
Z Komazec1, D Milosević, D Filipović
1Klinika za bolesti uva, grla i nosa, 21000 Novi Sad, Hajduk Veljkova 1-3.
Insights
Brainstem evoked response audiometry (BERA) shows a reliable correlation with biological hearing thresholds in adults. This study suggests correction factors for BERA to improve hearing threshold assessment accuracy.
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Neuroscience
- Electrophysiology
Context:
- Objective hearing evaluation is crucial for auditory rehabilitation, especially in infants and young children where traditional audiometry is not feasible.
- Electrophysiological methods like Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials (BAEP) and acoustic stapedius reflex are used for objective hearing threshold assessment in this age group.
Purpose:
- To analyze the correlation between biological hearing threshold determined by tonal audiometry and objective measures using ipsilateral stapedius reflex and Brainstem Evoked Response Audiometry (BERA).
Summary:
- A statistically significant correlation was found between biological hearing threshold and BERA response threshold across various frequencies (500 Hz to 4,000 Hz).
- The correlation between biological hearing threshold and ipsilateral stapedius reflex threshold was less consistent, showing significance only at 4,000 Hz.
Impact:
- The findings support the reliability of BERA for objective hearing threshold evaluation.
- This study proposes correction factors for BERA to enhance the accuracy of biological hearing threshold assessment, despite acknowledging its limitations.
Introduction:
Objective evaluation of hearing threshold and detection of hearing impairment are the basic prerequisites for hearing and speech rehabilitation. In infants and early pre-school children tonal audiometry is not possible. Though subjective, tonal audiometry is the most reliable method for evaluation of hearing threshold. Therefore, in children of this age, hearing threshold is evaluated by objective electroacoustic methods: early brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP) and acoustic stapedius reflex.
Material And Methods:
In 60 adult examinees (120 ears) with normal hearing we analyzed the correlation between biological hearing threshold determined by tonal audiometry and threshold of ipsilateral stapedius reflex, as well as response threshold determined by brainstem evoked response audiometry (BERA).
Results And Discussion:
We found a statistically significant correlation between biological hearing threshold and response threshold evaluated by brainstem evoked response audiometry. The linear Pearson correlation coefficient of: r = 0.40 for 500 Hz, r = 0.41 for 1,000 Hz, r = 0.44 for 2,000 Hz and r = 0.43 for 4,000 Hz (p < 0.01 for all values). Correlation coefficients between the biological hearing threshold and ipsilateral stapedius reflex threshold were not significant for 500 Hz (r = 0.46) and 1,000 Hz (r = 0.082), negative correlation was found for 2,000 Hz (r = 0.2656, p < 0.05) and significant correlation was confirmed only for 4,000 Hz (r = 0.225, p < 0.05).
Conclusion:
In regard to evident reliability of objective evaluation of hearing threshold by brainstem evoked response audiometry, this paper also suggests correction factors for evaluation of biological hearing threshold, and lists the deficiencies of hearing threshold assessment by this--still most accurate electrophysiological method.