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Quantitative Assessment of Cortical Auditory-tactile Processing in Children with Disabilities
Published on: January 29, 2014
Assessment of cochlear electrophysiology in typically developing children and children with auditory processing
Sangamanatha Ankmnal Veeranna1, Chris Allan2, Prudence Allen2
1National Centre for Audiology, Western University, London, Canada.
Insights
Children with auditory processing disorder (APD) have normal cochlear function but show reduced auditory brainstem response (ABR) wave V amplitude. This suggests APD anomalies stem from impaired neural processing after the initial auditory synapse.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Audiology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Auditory processing disorder (APD) is associated with abnormal auditory brainstem responses (ABRs).
- Cochlear integrity in children with APD is not well understood.
- Cochlear function can influence neural responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate cochlear and auditory brainstem integrity in children with APD.
- Determine if cochlear integrity differs between children with APD and typically developing children.
- Analyze ABR components in relation to cochlear function in APD.
Main Methods:
- Electrocochleography (ECochG) and ABRs were recorded from 20 children with APD, 16 typically developing children, and 20 adults.
- Cochlear responses were analyzed via summating potential/action potential latency, amplitude, and transmission time.
- ABR component amplitudes were examined, focusing on wave I and wave V.
Main Results:
- Children with APD demonstrated similar cochlear function to typically developing children.
- No significant difference in ABR wave I amplitude was found between groups.
- A significant reduction in ABR wave V amplitude was observed in children with APD.
Conclusions:
- APD in children is not linked to cochlear functional deficits.
- Reduced later ABR component amplitudes in APD suggest neural processing issues.
- Auditory brainstem response anomalies in APD likely originate post-synaptically.
Objective:
Children with auditory processing disorder (APD) are reported to have abnormal auditory brainstem responses (ABR) but little is understood about their cochlear integrity. Poor cochlear integrity can affect neural responses. In this study, cochlear and auditory brainstem integrity was investigated in children with APD.
Method:
Twenty children with APD, sixteen typically developing children and twenty adults participated in this study. Click evoked electrocochleography (ECochG) and ABRs were recorded from all the participants. Cochlear responses were analyzed using a) latency and amplitude of summating potential; action potential, b) transmission time between summating potential and action potential, c) summating potential/action potential amplitude ratio and d) action potential latency difference to condensation and rarefaction polarity. Amplitude in the ABR components was examined.
Results:
Children with APD showed similar cochlear function to the typically developing children. There were no significant differences in wave I amplitude between children with APD and typically developing children. However, wave V amplitude was significantly reduced in children with APD compared to typically developing children.
Conclusion:
In the absence of any functional differences in the cochlea, children with APD can show poor amplitude in the later components of the ABR. The ABR anomalies observed in children with APD arise due to poor neural processing, possibly after the first auditory synapse.
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