Normal infant and adult auditory brainstem responses to bone-conducted tones

Audiology. 1993;32(2):95-109. doi: 10.3109/00206099309071860.

Abstract

Auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) were recorded to 500- and 2000-Hz bone-conducted (BC) tones from normal infants and adults. Infant ABR thresholds for the 500-Hz BC tones are significantly lower than their thresholds to 2000-Hz BC tones. Infant wave V latencies to 500-Hz BC tones are significantly shorter than those of adults, whereas infant and adult responses to 2000-Hz BC tones are similar in latency, suggesting that the effective intensity of the BC tones may be 9-17 dB greater for infants than for adults. A marked asymmetry between the ipsilaterally and contralaterally recorded wave V is seen for infant responses to 500- and 2000-Hz tones at all intensities; this asymmetry is not as evident in adults, except near threshold.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Acoustic Stimulation
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Auditory Threshold
  • Bone Conduction / physiology*
  • Electroencephalography
  • Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem / physiology*
  • Female
  • Functional Laterality
  • Hearing*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male