Assessment of the Hearing Threshold in Children by Means of a New Objective Method Using Steade State Evoked Potentials

Overview

The purpose of this publication is to evaluate a new technology using Steady - State Evoked Potentials (SSEPs) for determining frequency - specific hearing impairment in infants and children. The authors describe the basic principles of this technique and methodology. The potentials are within the range of middle latency response (MLR) and are characterised by the frequency dependence of the stimulus and evoked potential. The stimulus is amplitude and frequency modulated and is continuous. The computer equipment calculates a frequency specific objective audiogram, and is especially significant for paediatric audiology. The technique evaluates thresholds between 125 - 8000 Hz at intensities of -10 - 130 dB. Early experience shows the SSEP are of significant benefit in testing very young and difficult to test individuals with hearing impairment. This method is also extremely useful in paediatric assessments for cochlear implantation due to detection of responses at low intensities. In summary this technique allows better rehabilitation after cochlear implantation.

Key words:
steady state evoked response, objective audiometry, middle latency response