BSER-audiometry in difficult-to-test patients.

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Pediatric audiology
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Assessing hearing in difficult-to-test patients, particularly those with behavioral disorders, presents significant challenges.
• Conventional audiometric techniques may be unreliable or impossible in these populations.
• Objective audiological assessments are crucial for early diagnosis and intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of Brainstem Evoked Response Audiometry (BSER) in determining hearing thresholds in a cohort of 38 difficult-to-test individuals.
• To compare BSER results with previous assessments using traditional audiometric methods.
• To identify audiological and otological findings in this patient group.

Main Methods:

• BSER audiometry was performed on 38 patients with severe behavioral disorders.
• General anesthesia was administered to facilitate testing.
• Middle ear status was assessed via myringotomy.
• Results were compared with prior conventional audiometric evaluations.

Main Results:

• BSER successfully obtained hearing thresholds in all 38 difficult-to-test patients.
• Middle ear fluid was detected in 20% of assessed ears.
• Significant ocular pathology was observed in 26% of patients.
• BSER thresholds correlated well with previous, albeit limited, conventional assessments.

Conclusions:

• BSER audiometry is a valuable tool for obtaining accurate hearing thresholds in difficult-to-test patients, including those requiring general anesthesia.
• The study highlights the prevalence of middle ear effusion and ocular comorbidities in this population.
• Objective measures like BSER are essential for comprehensive audiological evaluation in challenging pediatric cases.