Auditory brainstem response (ABR) to tone-pips: results in normal and hearing-impaired subjects

We evaluated predictive accuracy of the auditory brainstem response (ABR) to tone-pip and click signals in normal and hearing-impaired subjects. Prediction of hearing sensitivity based on threshold of the ABR to tone-pips of 500 and 2 000 Hz to clicks was compared to the behavioral results obtained by conventional pure-tone audiometry. Results showed that error in prediction was greatest for the 500 Hz tone-pip and least for the click. In addition, predictive error for the 500 Hz tone-pip varied with the contour of the pure-tone audiogram. In general, greatest predictive error was observed in subjects with steeply sloping audiograms.