Which stimulus should be used for auditory brainstem response in newborns; CE-Chirp® level specific versus Click...

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Neuroscience
• Pediatrics

Background:

• Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) assesses neural pathway function from the inner ear to the auditory cortex using auditory stimuli.
• ABR analysis involves evaluating wave latencies, amplitudes, interpeak-latencies, and morphologies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the amplitude, latency, and interpeak-latency differences of ABR waves using click and CE-Chirp® LS stimuli.
• To evaluate the clinical utility of the CE-Chirp® LS stimulus in infant hearing screening.

Main Methods:

• 100 infants with normal hearing were enrolled in the National Newborn Hearing Screening Program.
• Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) was performed using both click and CE-Chirp® LS stimuli.
• Absolute latency and amplitude of wave V were measured at 20, 40, and 60 dB nHL; waves I, III, and V were measured at 80 dB nHL.

Main Results:

• CE-Chirp® LS stimulus yielded significantly higher amplitudes for waves I, III, and V compared to click stimuli at 80 dB nHL, and for wave V at 60, 40, and 20 dB nHL.
• No significant differences were found in wave V latency and amplitudes between genders or risk factors.
• Interpeak latencies I-III and III-V showed no significant difference between stimuli at 80 dB nHL, but I-V interpeak latency was significantly decreased with both stimuli.

Conclusions:

• The CE-Chirp® LS stimulus demonstrates superior amplitude characteristics compared to click stimuli in infant ABR.
• The improved amplitude and morphology of CE-Chirp® LS facilitate easier interpretation by clinicians.
• Increased clinical use of the CE-Chirp® LS stimulus is recommended for enhanced ABR analysis in newborns.