Brainstem electric responses and electrocochleography: a comparison of threshold sensitivities in children

Brainstem electric response (BSER) and electrocochleography (ECochG) thresholds were measured in 55 ears of 46 'difficult-to-test' children. In most cases there was a reasonably close correlation between the two tests with BSER being less sensitive on the whole, but there was a small group, clinically indistinguishable from the majority, in whom an unacceptable discrepancy occurred. It was found that where the BSER threshold was equal to or less than 30 dB, the ECochG thresholds confirmed normal hearing, whereas if it was more than 30 dB further objective testing was essential to establish a definitive diagnosis of a hearing loss.