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Published on: May 10, 2019
Threshold characteristics of the human auditory brain stem response
The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
|January 1, 1987
Summary
Auditory brain stem responses (ABRs) reveal hearing sensitivity. The median ABR threshold was 38 dB p.e. SPL, influenced by physiological and technical factors for accurate hearing assessment.
Area of Science:
- Auditory Neuroscience
- Neurophysiology
- Audiology
Background:
- Auditory brain stem responses (ABRs) are crucial for assessing auditory pathway function.
- Understanding ABR threshold determination is vital for accurate hearing sensitivity measurement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the factors influencing auditory brain stem response (ABR) threshold sensitivity.
- To determine the relationship between ABR amplitude, background noise, and perceptual thresholds.
Main Methods:
- Recorded ABRs in normal-hearing subjects using click stimuli at varying intensity levels (34-52 dB p.e. SPL).
- Averaged 10,000 epochs per level with signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) estimation for ABR detection.
- Estimated perceptual thresholds using a modified block up-down procedure.
Main Results:
- The median ABR threshold was determined to be 38 dB p.e. SPL.
- The "true" ABR amplitude crossed the background noise level (11.3 nVrms) at 35.5 dB p.e. SPL (SNR=1).
- Extrapolation indicated ABR amplitude became zero at 32 dB p.e. SPL; median perceptual threshold was 33 dB p.e. SPL.
Conclusions:
- ABR threshold sensitivity is influenced by both physiological factors (amplitude function slope) and technical parameters (background noise).
- Accurate hearing sensitivity indication using ABR requires consideration of these factors and the detection method.
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