Int Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2014; 18 - a2249
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1388996

Comparison between the Threshold of Auditory Steady State Response and the Threshold of Pure Tone Audiometry in Adults without Hearing Loss

Audrei Thayse Viegel de Ávila 1, Letícia Gregory 1, Mariane Heckmann Wender 1, Pricila Sleifer 1
  • 1Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul

Introduction: Auditory steady state response (ASSR) has properties that allow a detailed and objective assessment of hearing and can predict auditory thresholds.

Objective: To compare the thresholds obtained with the ASSR thresholds of pure tone audiometry (PTA) in adults without hearing loss.

Methods: Cross-sectional and contemporary study with a sample of 80 individuals with normal hearing and aged between 20 and 30 years. All participants performed research of minimum thresholds of ASSR and PTA, at the frequencies of 500, 1,000, 2,000, and 4,000 Hz in both ears.

Results: Out of 80 individuals, 40 (50%) were male and the remaining 40 (50%) were female. In comparing the obtained thresholds, it was found that the averages of the ASSR were significantly higher than in ATL (p < 0.001), with the largest differences occurring at 500 and 1,000 Hz on the right ear. However, in the left ear, the biggest difference was displayed at 500 Hz. Regarding gender, no significant differences (p > 0.05) were found. In the comparison between age groups, statistically significant differences were found in the frequency of 500 and 1,000 Hz on the right ear, where the mean threshold of the group 20 to 23 years old was higher than the group 28 to 30 years (p < 0.05), but did not differ from those aged from 24 to 27 years (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: The ASSR thresholds obtained in 15 to 20 dB were higher than the thresholds of ATL, indicating that the response of the ASSR can predict the auditory threshold and complement the assessment of hearing.

Keywords: Electrophysiology, auditory evoked potentials.