The relationship between auditory brainstem response and behavioral thresholds in normal hearing infants and adults

The nature of age-related improvements in auditory sensitivity was explored by comparing behavioral and auditory brainstem response (ABR) thresholds in 3- and 6-month-old infants and in adults. Thresholds were estimated for tone pips at 1, 4, and 8 kHz, presented at a rate of 13.3/s. The time course of development of the two response measures was compared, and the correlation between thresholds for individual subjects was examined. Infant ABR threshold was adultlike at all frequencies, even among 3-month-olds. Infant behavioral thresholds were elevated relative to adult thresholds. Between 3 and 6 months, significant improvement occurred in the 8-kHz behavioral threshold, but no improvement occurred at other frequencies. This difference between ABR and behavioral measures in developmental time course suggests that peripheral sensitivity is not a major determinant of behavioral threshold elevation during infancy. The correlation between behavioral and ABR thresholds was significant at 4 kHz for 3-month-olds and at 8 kHz for adults. This suggests that variability in sensory function at these frequencies contributes to both behavioral and ABR thresholds, although other factors are likely to be involved as well.