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Bone conduction auditory brainstem responses in infants

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 March 2006

P. E. Campbell ,
C. M. Harris ,
S. Hendricks  and
T. Sirimanna
P. E. Campbell
Affiliation:
Plymouth Institute of Neuroscience, Plymouth University, Plymouth, UK
C. M. Harris
Affiliation:
Plymouth Institute of Neuroscience, Plymouth University, Plymouth, UK
S. Hendricks
Affiliation:
Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, UK
T. Sirimanna
Affiliation:
Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, UK
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Abstract

The contribution of air conduction auditory brainstem response (AC-ABR) testing in the paediatric population is widely accepted in clinical audiology. However, this does not allow for differentiation between conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. The purpose ofthis paper is to review the role of bone conduction auditory brainstem responses (BC-ABR). It is argued that despite such technical difficulties as a narrow dynamic range, masking dilemmas, stimulus artifact and low frequency underestimation of hearing loss, considerable evidence exists to suggest that BC-ABR testing provides an important contribution in the accurate assessmentof hearing loss in infants. Modification of the BC-ABR protocol is discussed and the technical difficulties that may arise are addressed, permitting BC-ABR to be used as a tool in the differential diagnosis between conductive and sensorineural hearing. Two relevant case studies are presented to highlight the growing importance of appropriate management in early identification of hearing loss. It can be concluded that BC-ABR should be adopted as a routine clinical diagnostic tool.

Keywords

Air Bone ConductionEvoked PotentialsAuditoryBrain StemChild
Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 118 , Issue 2 , February 2004 , pp. 117 - 122
Copyright
© Royal Society of Medicine Press Limited 2004

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