Reliability of auditory brainstem responses from sequenced high-frequency (> or = 8 kHz) tonebursts

An auditory brainstem response method is described for evoking responses to 4 high-frequency (8, 10, 12 and 14 kHz) tonebursts in the same amount of time normally required to obtain responses to single tonebursts. Reliability of responses to high-frequency toneburst stimuli presented in the conventional manner (one at a time) has been previously documented. In the present study, high-frequency tonebursts were presented to 20 normal-hearing subjects singly and in a 4-stimulus sequence. The reliability of resulting responses did not differ significantly between single- and multiple-stimulus test conditions. It is concluded that this sequenced-stimulus concept could be developed for use in serial monitoring of individuals receiving ototoxic agents as well as being broadly applicable to clinical situations in which patients cannot or will not respond voluntarily.