Clinical standardisation of auditory brainstem evoked potentials in adults

ABSTRACT Objective: It was aimed to determine the normal latency values for the adults in different age groups and to create standard data of our clinic by revealing the effect of age and gender factors on Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials (BAEP). Material and Method: 188 ears of 94 voluntary individuals aged between 18-65 years with normal hearing were included in the study, and 4 different age groups were formed among individuals. The individuals who were included in the study were administered with ENT examination, acoustic immitancemetry, pure tone and speech audiometry and BAEP tests. In the BAEP test, the latency differences (Interpeak Latency=IPL) between Ist, IIIrd, Vth wave latencies and I-III, III-V and I-V waves were evaluated by age and gender using 11.1 click/sec rate at 80 and 90 dB nHL stimulus intensity. Results: It was observed that the BAEP absolute latency and IPL values extended in parallel with the increase of age. It was determined that the BAEP absolute latency and IPL values extended along with the increase of age over the age of 40 in both genders. It was observed that IIIrd and Vth wave latencies and I-III, III-V and I-V IPLs in males at both stimulus intensities were statistically significantly longer compared to females. Conclusion: The absolute wave latency and IPL values at 80 and 90 dB nHL stimulus intensity were determined according to gender and age groups aged between 18-65 years, and no difference was found between these values. These values constituting the BAEP standard data of our clinic will be references for the evaluation of our patients and our future studies. Key Words: Auditory Brainstem Evoked Potentials, Clinical Standardisation, ABR, Adult