Int. Adv. Otol. 2010; 6(3) 371-379

Prediction of loudness growth in subjects with sensorineural hearing loss using auditory steady state response.
Afaf A.Emara, Enaas A. Kolkaila. Audiology Unit, ENT Department, Tanta University, Egypt

Subjective methods for judgment of loudness are of little value for the assessment of very young children, older patients or subjects with attention-deficient.

Objective: This study was designed to investigate the relationship between auditory steady-state responses (ASSR) and loudness growth function. Moreover, we aimed to use the amplitude of ASSR test to predict the loudness growth function in order to use it for hearing aid adjustment in difficult to test subjects.

Subjects and methods: 15 normal hearing subjects and 15 subjects with bilateral moderate sensorineural hearing loss were examined. Contour test was recorded for loudness judgment of different sounds. ASSR also was recorded at frequencies of 500, 1000, 2000 and 4000 Hz to all subjects.

Results:  ASSR amplitude values and loudness judgments increase as the stimulus intensity increases for the four frequencies studied. There was a high correlation between Loudness judgment detected by the contour test and ASSR amplitude as a function of stimulation intensity in the two tested groups.

Conclusion: The results suggest that ASSR can be used as an objective test for prediction of loudness in subjects with SNHL especially in difficult-to-test individuals,