Comparison of the latencies between bone and air conduction in the auditory brain stem evoked potential

Brain stem auditory evoked potentials obtained by air and bone conduction were investigated in 22 subjects. The necessity for a carefully selected stimulus being presented to the headphone and the bone vibrator is discussed. Latency values of both responses are presented for wave V. Bone conduction showed latencies which were longer than those obtained by air conduction (about 0.9 msec). Possible mechanisms for this delay are discussed.