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ABR latency in infants: properties and applications of various measures
A Fujita1, M L Hyde, P W Alberti
1Silverman Audiology Laboratory, Department of Otolaryngology, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Canada.
Insights
Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) latency ratios show no significant age or gender effects in infants. These ratios, along with wave latencies, can help identify conductive hearing loss in infants.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Audiology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) latency ratios are proposed clinical tools for assessing infants at risk for auditory or neurologic deficits.
- Previous studies have not fully elucidated the impact of age and gender on these parameters in healthy infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the influence of age and gender on ABR latency ratios and absolute/interwave latencies in infants with normal hearing.
- To evaluate the diagnostic utility of these ABR parameters in differentiating normal hearing from hearing impairment.
Main Methods:
- Analyzed ABR data from 131 infants aged 48-64 weeks post-conceptional age with normal ABR thresholds.
- Measured absolute (Wave I) and interwave (I-III, III-V, I-V) latencies and calculated latency ratios (V/I, V/III, III/I).
- Assessed correlations between latency measures and post-conceptional age/gender, and their ability to discriminate between normal and conductive hearing loss.
Main Results:
- Wave I latency was unaffected by age or gender.
- Waves III and V latencies decreased linearly with age and were smaller in females.
- Latency ratios (V/I, V/III, III/I) showed no significant age or gender effects.
- Wave I latency and V/I ratio effectively discriminated normal infants from those with conductive hearing loss.
Conclusions:
- Age and gender significantly affect absolute and interwave ABR latencies, requiring consideration in clinical assessments.
- Latency ratios (V/I, V/III, III/I) are robust to age and gender variations in this cohort.
- Wave I latency and V/I ratio show promise for identifying conductive hearing loss in infants, though sensorineural impairment effects require further study.
Abstract:
ABR latency ratios have been proposed as useful clinical tools in the assessment of infants at risk for auditory or neurologic deficits. These parameters, together with classical absolute and interwave latency measures, were examined in 131 infants with normal ABR thresholds at 48-64 weeks post-conceptional age, and with no conventional risk factor for hearing impairment or neurological abnormality. Latency of wave I is unaffected by age or gender, but that of waves III and V decreases linearly with age and is smaller in females. These effects must be accounted for in clinical evaluation. However, latency ratios V/I, V/III and III/I show no significant age or gender effects. Wave I latency and the V/I latency ratio both permitted very good discrimination between normal infants and those with presumed conductive hearing losses, but the effects of sensorineural impairment have yet to be determined. On a priori grounds it seems improbable that latency ratios will outperform classical ABR parameters, at least for the goals and age range considered in this study.