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Updated: Jul 13, 2026
Semi-Automated Analysis of Peak Amplitude and Latency for Auditory Brainstem Response Waveforms Using R
Published on: December 9, 2022
Occasional finding of neurological disorders during children hearing loss evaluation using the ABR
Luiz Carlos Alves de Sousa1, Luciano da Silveira Rodrigues, Marcelo Ribeiro de Toledo Piza
1Department of Surgery, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo. lcarlos@clinicapaparella.com.br
Insights
Brainstem evoked response audiometry (ABR) aids in diagnosing hearing loss in children. This audiology tool occasionally reveals unexpected neurological disorders during routine hearing evaluations.
Area of Science:
- Audiology and Neuroscience
- Pediatric Neuro-otology
Background:
- Brainstem evoked response audiometry (ABR) is crucial for assessing hearing loss in children.
- ABR evaluates the neurophysiological integrity of the auditory brainstem pathway.
- ABR is also used for screening cochleo-vestibular syndromes and monitoring comatose patients.
Observation:
- ABR testing can reveal abnormalities like trace asymmetry and increased interpeak intervals.
- These ABR findings may indicate retrocochlear lesions.
- Such findings can be confirmed by imaging studies.
Findings:
- This study reports two cases where ABR testing led to the diagnosis of neurological disorders.
- These diagnoses occurred during the evaluation of hearing loss in pediatric patients.
- ABR served as an incidental diagnostic tool for neurological conditions.
Implications:
- ABR is a valuable tool not only for hearing assessment but also for identifying underlying neurological issues in children.
- Early detection of neurological disorders through ABR can lead to timely intervention.
- This highlights the broader diagnostic potential of ABR in pediatric audiology.
Abstract:
One of the most important applications of the Brainstem evoked response audiometry (ABR) is in the evaluation of hearing loss in children. Today the ABR is also indicated in the screening of cochleo-vestibular syndromes to detect retrocochlear lesions, to monitor patients in a coma (brain death), in monitoring the brainstem during skull base surgery, etc. Among the many BERA qualities, is its capacity to evaluate the neurophysiologic integrity of the auditory brainstem pathway. In doing so, sometimes while evaluating hearing function in children we are faced with ABR waves that suggest the presence of retrocochlear lesions (trace asymmetry, increased interpeak intervals), many times confirmed through image studies. These cases are seen as occasional findings of neurologic disorders during children hearing loss evaluation. In this study we report 2 cases of neurologic disorders diagnosed with the use of the ABR to evaluate hearing loss in children.
