Optimizing Parameters for Using the Parallel Auditory Brainstem Response to Quickly Estimate Hearing Thresholds.
Melissa J Polonenko, Ross K Maddox
PMID 34593686WHAT IT FOUND
For normal-hearing adults, a 40 Hz stimulation rate optimizes the parallel ABR, yielding clear waveforms in under 10 minutes.
Extending the analysis window to 30 ms saves 5 to 16 minutes for the slowest low-frequency responses.
Key findings
01A stimulation rate of 40 Hz provided the fastest recording times for the majority of subjects across all frequencies.
02Using a 30 ms analysis window instead of 10 ms saved 5 to 16 minutes for the slowest 25% of subjects when detecting low-frequency responses.
03Correction factors to convert stimulus levels to normal hearing levels changed by only 3.5 to 6.0 dB across the tested rates, allowing flexible testing protocols.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study was performed only on adults with normal hearing, so it does not account for how hearing loss affects response timing or amplitude. The method has not yet been validated in infants, who may have different neural adaptation properties and shorter sleep cycles. The correction factors are specific to the ER-2 insert earphones used in this study and may not apply to other transducers.
Declared interests
Funded by N.I.H. Extramural support. No other conflicts of interest declared.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume these recording times apply directly to infants or patients with hearing loss. The study was conducted on adults with normal hearing, and the authors note that infant responses and threshold elevation may alter the optimal parameters and timing.