The value of ABR- and ASSR-based hearing estimation in young children with congenital monaural malformation (atresia)

摘要

Background: The electrophysiology of auditory nerve mature is particularly important for unilateral hearing loss. Objectives: To assess the hearing status in young children with congenital monaural malformation and evaluate their potential for practical use in the functional maturation parameters of the auditory pathway. Materials and methods: ABR (auditory brainstem responses) and ASSR (auditory steady-state responses) threshold measurements were performed in 21 young children with congenital monaural atresia. Results: The average electrophysiologic thresholds for the ABR were 65 dB nHL +/- 1.20 in malformed ears and 25 dB nHL +/- 0.48 in normal ones. All 21 atretic ears presented with typical conductive hearing loss. There was no statistic positive correlation in hearing-impaired ears between the methods of ABR and ASSR responses (r = 0.12, 0.20 and 0.17). The IPL (interpeak latency) of I-III, III-V and I-V of atretic ears in ABR test was decreased relative to normal ears. Furthermore, a shortening of the IPLs I-III, III-V, I-V can be observed with increasing age of the children in malformed ears.