Presbyacusis and the auditory brainstem response

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Neuroscience
• Gerontology

Background:

• Age-related hearing loss (ARHL), or presbyacusis, is a prevalent form of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL).
• The auditory brainstem response (ABR) is a critical tool for assessing auditory function in clinical and research settings.
• Aging alters the auditory system, potentially impacting ABR results compared to younger individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive understanding of age-related changes in the ABR.
• To integrate physiological and histopathological data from human and animal studies.
• To clarify how an aging auditory system influences ABR interpretation in presbyacusis.

Main Methods:

• Review and integration of physiological and histopathological data.
• Analysis of human and animal study findings.
• Examination of age-related effects on ABR thresholds, latencies, amplitudes, masking, and temporal processing.

Main Results:

• Age-related changes in the auditory system significantly influence ABR parameters.
• Distinguishing between threshold-related and aging-process-related ABR alterations is crucial for accurate interpretation.
• Specific changes in thresholds, latencies, and amplitudes are observed with aging.

Conclusions:

• Understanding age-related auditory system changes is essential for accurate ABR interpretation in presbyacusis.
• The review highlights the need to consider the aging process itself, beyond simple threshold elevation, when evaluating ABR.
• This integrated approach enhances the clinical and research utility of ABR in the context of age-related hearing loss.