Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 16, 2026
Infant Auditory Processing and Event-related Brain Oscillations
Published on: July 1, 2015
Analysis of auditory function using brainstem auditory evoked potentials and auditory steady state responses in
Alma Janeth Moreno-Aguirre1, Efraín Santiago-Rodríguez, Thalía Harmony
1Unidad de Investigación en Neurodesarrollo 'Dr. Augusto Fernández Guardiola', Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Querétaro, México.
Insights
Brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) and auditory steady state responses (ASSRs) effectively screen hearing in infants with perinatal brain injury (PBI). BAEPs detect sensorineural loss, while ASSRs identify conductive hearing loss.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal audiology
- Neuroscience
- Pediatric audiology
Background:
- Perinatal brain injury (PBI) affects approximately 2-4% of newborns with risk factors, potentially leading to hearing loss.
- Early detection of auditory dysfunction is crucial for timely intervention in infants with PBI.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze and compare the efficacy of different auditory function tests in infants diagnosed with perinatal brain injury (PBI).
- To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials (BAEPs), Auditory Steady State Responses (ASSRs), and tympanometry in this population.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 294 infants with PBI underwent audiological assessments including BAEPs, ASSRs, and tympanometry.
- Abnormalities were recorded for each test, and diagnostic performance metrics (sensitivity, specificity) were calculated by comparing test results.
- Specific comparisons included ASSRs vs. BAEPs, ASSRs vs. tympanometry, and BAEPs vs. tympanometry.
Main Results:
- Abnormalities were detected in 27% of ears for BAEPs, 39% for ASSRs, and 22% for tympanometry.
- ASSRs demonstrated high sensitivity (96%) and specificity (77%) for detecting middle-ear pathology when compared with tympanometry.
- BAEPs showed high specificity (95%) but low sensitivity (35%) when compared with tympanometry, indicating better identification of sensorineural hearing loss.
Conclusions:
- BAEPs are valuable for neonatal auditory screening, particularly for identifying sensorineural hearing losses with greater accuracy.
- ASSRs are more suitable for detecting conductive hearing loss associated with middle-ear pathologies in infants with PBI.
- The combined use and comparative accuracy of these tests offer a comprehensive approach to assessing auditory function in at-risk infants.
Abstract:
Approximately 2-4 % of newborns with perinatal risk factors present hearing loss. The aim of this study was to analyse the auditory function in infants with perinatal brain injury (PBI). Brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs), auditory steady state responses (ASSRs), and tympanometry studies were carried out in 294 infants with PBI (586 ears, two infants had unilateral microtia-atresia). BAEPs were abnormal in 158 (27%) ears, ASSRs in 227 (39%), and tympanometry anomalies were present in 131 (22%) ears. When ASSR thresholds were compared with BAEPs, the assessment yielded 92% sensitivity and 68% specificity. When ASSR thresholds were compared with tympanometry results as an indicator of middle-ear pathology, the assessment gave 96% sensitivity and 77% specificity. When BAEP thresholds were compared with tympanometry results, sensitivity was 35% and specificity 95%. In conclusion, BAEPs are useful test for neonatal auditory screening; they identify with more accuracy sensorineural hearing losses. ASSRs are more pertinent for identifying conductive hearing loss associated with middle-ear pathology. The consistency and accuracy of these results could be considered in additional studies.
