Leveraging cluster analysis to compare click and chirp-evoked auditory brainstem responses

Area of Science:

• Auditory Neuroscience
• Neurophysiology
• Audiology

Background:

• Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) testing is vital for assessing auditory pathway integrity.
• ABR is used for threshold estimation and evaluating neural function at suprathreshold levels.
• Click and chirp stimuli are commonly employed in ABR testing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare click-evoked and CE-Chirp®-evoked ABRs in normal-hearing infants and adults.
• To identify patterns and distinctions in ABR responses using cluster analysis.
• To evaluate ABRs at suprathreshold levels for both stimulus types.

Main Methods:

• Recorded click-evoked and CE-Chirp® evoked ABRs from normal-hearing infants and adults.
• Utilized cluster analysis to categorize response patterns.
• Analyzed responses across time, frequency, and time-frequency domains.

Main Results:

• Click-evoked ABRs demonstrated homogeneity in the time-domain for both age groups.
• CE-Chirp®-evoked ABRs exhibited variability in both infants and adults.
• Variability in CE-Chirp® responses may stem from stimulus complexity and auditory system interaction.

Conclusions:

• Audiologists must account for the inherent variability of chirp-evoked ABRs.
• Chirp-evoked ABRs may reveal subtle auditory system functions not evident with click stimuli.
• Findings can refine clinical ABR testing protocols and enhance understanding of auditory processing.