Reliability of Auditory Steady-State Response (ASSR): Comparing Thresholds of Auditory Steady-State Response (ASSR) with Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) in Children with Severe Hearing Loss

In this study, ABR and ASSR thresholds in children with severe hearing loss have been compared and the advantages and disadvantages of these methods discussed. Twenty children, nine female and 11 males, aged between 19 and 41 months were included to this study. All the children underwent otoscopy and ABR before the measurement of ASSR thresholds. ABR and ASSR threshold measurements were performed by different physicians. Each child was asleep with chloralhydrate (0.5 g/kg) during the test. The hearing thresholds in ABR correlated well with the threshold obtained with ASSR. In addition; in patients, where the thresholds for ABR were not measurable, it could be found in ASSR tests. If there is not any residual hearing for subjects, both tests resulted with no response. Based on these findings, both ABR and ASSR techniques may be used to provide an estimate of hearing sensitivity in children, but ASSR is a more valuable test than ABR, especially for cochlear implant candidates.