The comparison of auditory behavioral and evoked potential responses (steady state and cortical) in subjects with occupational noise-induced hearing loss
ASSR is useful in claimants for NIHL-compensation when PTA lacks reliability.
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ASSR outperforms CERA in medicolegal context.
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ASSR overestimates the behavioral thresholds by 10–13 dBHL .
Abstract
Objective
To define difference scores between PTA, ASSR and CERA thresholds in subjects with occupational NIHL.
Design
44 subjects undergoing a medico-legal expert assessment for occupational NIHL and fulfilling criteria of reliability were considered. Assessment included: PTA, 40 Hz binaural multiple ASSR and CERA (1-2-3 kHz).
Results
The respective average difference scores (ASSR - PTA) for 1, 2 and 3 kHz are 13.01 (SD 10.19) dB, 12.72 (SD 8.81) dB and 10.38 (SD 8.19) dB. The average (CERA - ASSR) difference scores are 1.25 (SD 14.63) dB for 1 kHz (NS), 2.73 (SD 13.03) dB for 2 kHz (NS) and 4.51 (SD 12.18) dB for 3 kHz. The correlation between PTA and ASSR (0.82) is significantly stronger than that between PTA and CERA (0.71). In a given subject, PTA thresholds are nearly always lower (i.e., better) than ASSR thresholds, whatever the frequency (1-2-3 kHz) and the side (right – left). A significant negative correlation is found between the difference score (ASSR – PTA) and the degree of hearing loss.
Conclusion
ASSR outperforms CERA in a medicolegal context, although overestimating the behavioral thresholds by 10–13 dB.
Keywords
CERA
ASSR
NIHL
Hearing thresholds
Occupational
Cited by (0)
Peer review under responsibility of PLA General Hospital Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery.