Clinical use of brainstem evoked response audiometry

The preceeding cases were selected to illustrate the contribution of BER audiometry in threshold testing for infants and malingerers, diagnosis of VIIIth nerve tumors, and identification of brainstem lesions. We feel, however, that these represent only the fundamental applications of BER and that a whole new diagnostic dimension wil evolve. The day only limitations of which the authors are aware in the use of brainstem evoked response is that a patient with a high tone sensorineural hearing loss may have abnormal wave forms or, if the high tone loss is severe, the waves may be totally absent. Brainstem evoked responses are unaffected by anesthesia and drugs. The patient does have to be relatively quiet during the test; this can be accomplished with sedation, if necessary.