Final Exam Flashcards
What are the benefits of a 2-channel recording?
- Can get ipsilateral and contralateral waveforms
- Can get a horizontal montage
In patients with ANSD, why would cortical responses be present when the ABR is absent?
- Cortical responses result from slow changes–post synaptic potentials
- Brainstem responses occur because of fast action potentials, which require more neural synchrony.
ANSD results in neural dyssynchrony, thus the cortical responses would be present but the brainstem responses wouldn’t be.
What is the sensitive period for maximal plasticity for cochlear implantation in children?
3 years. 3.5-7 years there is a lot of variability. >7 years, you’re screwed.
How quickly does the P1 latency reach normal levels in children who are early implanted?
5 months
What consonants are evaluated in infants with hearing aids using the HearLab system?
/m/, /t/, /g/
What is the recommended MLR analysis for diagnosis of APD (according to Weihing et al, 2012)
Ear effect and electrode effect.
Less variability for electrode effect.
Ear effect:
(RA + RB)/2 (LA + LB)/2
Electrode effect:
(RA+LA)/2 (RB+LB)/2
What is the maturational time course of the cortical components going from infant to adult?
P1 and N2 are more prominent in children
Gradually shifts to P2 and N1 becoming prominent in adults. Latencies become adult-like around adolescence
Describe how you obtain an MMN (Mismatch Negativity)
Oddball paradigm–> present 1 regularly occurring stimulus and then an oddball (say 1 out of every 4). Subtract oddball from regularly occurring stimulus and get curve. Take area under the curve (difference waveform) as your MMN.
Why can’t the late responses be used for clinical disgnosis?
Highly variable
What measurement of the AN-CAP are you monitoring during VIIIth nerve surgery?
N1 (which is the same as wave I in ABR and AP in ECochG) [auditory nerve]
Wave I= distal end of the auditory nerve and Wave II= proximal end of the auditory nerve.
Why is ABR sensitivity for tumor detection so low (80%)? What can be done to increase sensitivity?
Only testing mid/high frequencies (2000-4000 Hz) with ABR. Thus, if the tumor affects low frequency region of the auditory nerve, then the ABR won’t pick it up. Can use stacked ABR to increase sensitivity.
What can be done to prevent phase cancellation of the low frequency components of the ABR?
Stacked ABR. Line all the waves up by wave V so that you obtain using HP noise.
Why is it so important to minimize physiological noise when obtaining stacked ABRs?
With stacked ABR, you’re measuring amplitude not latency after you line up all the wave Vs. Thus, if someone is noisy, it can cause a spurious increase in amplitude.
What analysis is used for evaluating the frequency energy of a response?
Fourier analysis [Fast Fourier Transform (FFT)]
FFT finds the amplitude energy of simple sine waves that make up a complex waveform.
Speech sounds- frequencies coded as timing differences in waveforms- can look at differentiation in terms of timing differences/phase
List 2 ways to analyze phase representation
- Time- look at timing differences between waveforms
2. Phaseogram- calculates radian differences automatically
What is the primary requirement for evoked potentials to be viable in a clinical setting?
Replicable/reliable waveforms
In what circumstances is it important to identify Wave I?
- Neurodiagnostic ABR
- Wave I permits calculation of interwave latency values
What is the best recording setup to elicit a click-evoked wave I? Why?
Horizontal–> Because you have better alignment of the dipoles (same dipole)
Why can a contralateral recording help separate waves IV and V in the response?
With ipsilateral, you get a fused wave IV and V because the pathway doesn’t go through the LL.
With contralateral, go through LL and IC.
*Crossover of signal–will be measuring from 2 places/allows for better separation of the two waves.
What are the components of the ECochG? Which component reflects the DC component?
- Cochlear Microphonic (CM)–> closely resembles the sound stimulus. Reflects the alternating current, which mainly originates from the OHCs
- Action potential (AP)–> Generated by fibers of the auditory nerve.
- Summating potential (SP)–> a separate peak preceding the AP. May appear as a ledge or hump on the beginning of the AP. Arises from the cochlea.
SP reflects the DC component of hair cell receptor potential.
Why is ECochG used for diagnosis of ANSD?
ECochG allows you to see the cochlear microphonic. You would use rarefaction and condensation polarity to see the CM. The presence of a cochlear microphonic (CM) indicates ANSD because it informs OHC function. If ABR is abnormal and OAEs are present, CM may be present in patients without OAEs.
How is ECochG used for diagnosis of Meniere’s Disease?
Meniere’s Disease is characterized by abnormally large ECochG SP component. Repeatable SP and AP are recorded; AP amplitudes are calculated from a common baseline. The SP/AP ratio is calculated. Patient’s SP/AP ratio is compared in the suspected ear to the normal ear and to normative data. SP should be at least 1/2 AP in normal condition.
List 3 types of electrodes used in ECochG
- Tip trode–> placed in external ear canal but doesn’t touch TM
Weakest but least invasive - Tymptrode–> placed in ear canal and gently rests on the TM
- Transtympanic/Needle electrode–> placed through TM and rests on oval window
What might the absence of waves above I and II indicate?
Severe brainstem dysfunction that is incompatible with life. If get this result with someone in a coma, then this means that you are only getting a response from the auditory nerve and not the brainstem.
What might delays between waves I and III and III and V indicate?
Multiple Sclerosis
What does a prolonged separation between Waves I and III indicate?
Tumor on the auditory nerve
List advantages and disadvantages of toneburst ABR
Advantages:
- Better estimation of NH
- Tells about neural integrity
- Absolute quiet not required
Disadvantages:
- High level of skill required
- Subjective interpretation of results
List advantages and disadvantages of ASSR
Advantages:
- Automated
- Avoid interpretation bias
- Can test at high dB levels
- Can test up to 4 frequencies at the same time
- Good for severe to profound HL
- Can test right/left ear at the same time
Disadvantages:
- Overestimates hearing levels for normal hearing individuals
- Patient needs to be completely still
How does ASSR compensate for neural adaptation?
A steady state stimulus will be ignored by the system. Thus, manipulation of the stimulus is desirable in ASSR. ASSR compensates by doing 100% modulation to turn the signal on/off and prevent the system from adapting.
What is the ideal modulation rate for measuring brainstem activity using ASSR?
> 60% but less than 100%. Usually around 80-90%
To get a response using ASSR, the ear must hear at the BLANK 1 frequency and the brain must respond at the BLANK 2 frequency.
- Carrier
2. Modulation
Sampling rate refers to the BLANK 1 scale and the bit rate refers to the BLANK 2 scale.
- Time
2. Amplitude
What low-pass setting should be used in infant hearing screening?
1500 Hz
What high-pass setting should be used in infant hearing screening? Why?
30 Hz; b/c infants have more low frequency energy in their responses. Do something higher (like 70-100 Hz) for adults
What advantages do chirps provide over clicks or tonebursts?
Chirps activate the entire BM at the same time. With tonebursts, you only get the basal end of the BM. With a chirp, it compensates for the tonotopicity of the BM and activates the low frequencies first, thus activating the entire BM.
List ways to optimize testing time when obtaining thresholds in babies.
- Prepare the family by sending a letter outlining what the test is and why it’s important
- Use a faster rate–> rates of 27.1 to 39/1/sec don’t degrade the response but don’t slow down testing time
- Use ascending approach (if highly experienced tester)
- Use 20-40 dB step sizes at suprathreshold levels with descending approach
- No testing below minimum required intensity level (Ex. 20 dB nHL)
- Don’t use step sizes less than 10 dB unless over 70 dB
- Don’t repeat runs at suprathreshold levels
- Test a high frequency first, then lowest frequency, then fill in the rest–> better in the highs (most likely where to see a SNHL) then fill in lows
- Test assumed better ear first
Why are tonebursts used for ABR threshold estimation instead of pure tones?
- Synchronous neural firing needed for brainstem response and this requires very brief stimuli
Toneburst–> gated sinusoids (less than 1 sec)
Continuous tone–> sinusoids with greater than 1 sec. duration. Gradual onset and offset so can’t use
What is the electrode montage for a 2-channel ipsi and contralateral recording?
Channel A:
Reference/negative- stimulus earlobe
Active/positive- High forehead (Fz)
Ground- low forehead
Channel B:
Reference/negative- contralateral earlobe
What is the electrode montage for a 1 channel horizontal recording?
Reference–> stimulus earlobe
Ground–> low forehead
Active–> reference earlobe
What is the electrode montage for an MLR recording?
C3 (Left top of head)--> Active C4 (Right top of head)--> Active Forehead: Ground A1 (Left earlobe)--> Reference A2 (right earlobe)--> Reference
For which stimulus is it easier to obtain thresholds- 500 Hz or 4000 Hz? Why?
4000 Hz–> low frequency energy gets cancelled out by phase cancellations
Why would you start with a click when doing a threshold ABR with babies?
- Good assessment of neural integrity
- Can tell you where to start testing tone bursts
- You get waves I, III, and V
Describe how you would use evoked potentials to evaluate generalization of training.
Trained to discriminate /mba/ and /ba/ and they found that this training generalized to discriminating /nda/ and /da/. Larger MMN after training. MMN helps you become sensitive to subtle differences.
What areas of the cortex shows activation to stimulation in early and late-implanted children?
Early–> auditory cortex and parietal cortex
Late–> only parietal lobe
Why is stimulus rate important in diagnostics?
- Increased stimulation rate may enable detection of subtle auditory neuropathology
- With increased rate, the auditory system is stressed beyond its functional capacity
What increase in latency would you see with an increase in rate of 10/sec?
0.1 ms increase with every rate increase of 10/sec
How can you tell if you have post-auricular muscle effect in the MLR?
If it is before 20 ms, then it might be muscle artifact and not a response.
What happens to amplitude with increased sweeps?
Decreases b/c the noise contributes to the overall amplitude.
What are the benefits of a horizontal montage?
- Better Wave I–need to see wave I if you want to see differences between wave I and III.
- with ECocHG you can see the cochlear Microphonic when you do a horizontal recording
What happens to the response when you raise the low-pass filter?
Get artifact
How does filtering enhance signal detection?
Cut out cortical response by raising high pass filter to 100 and cut-out high frequency noise because brainstem only phase locks to about 2000 Hz
What conditions must be met for neural activity to be detected at the scalp?
- More synchronous firing
- Open field
- Dipoles must be spatially aligned
What are the effects of hypothermia on ABR latencies?
Delayed
Why are MLRs, arising from Heschel’s gyrus, relatively small at the scalp?
Tangential dipoles
Describe the developmental trajectory of onset latencies for clicks or speech stimuli.
Decreases from infancy to 5 years of age. Flat from 5-8 years of age. Increases from 8 years of age to adult. Thus, latency is earliest at 5 years of age.
Why can’t the FFR be used for obtained threshold responses to speech stimuli?
Need a very brief stimulus to generate the synchronous neural firing necessary to generate an ABR at threshold. A clear FFR is only generated with stimuli that are presented at levels of at least moderate intensity.
What are the effects of sleep on the MLR?
MLR is affected by subject state! As a result, it isn’t good for testing babies.
Stage 2 sleep results in a reduction in amplitude. Stage 4 (delta) sleep wipes out the ABR. Stage 5 (REM) sleep results in a normal ABR.
What are potential uses for evoked potentials in the hearing aid fitting for both children and adults?
- P1 latency decreases and follows trajectory and gets early post-HA use
- Making sure that sounds are audible (HearLab) for children
- Maybe brain isn’t coding sound correctly even though you are giving them appropriate amount of amplification and they don’t like their hearing aids.
When testing children with ABR, AAA guidelines suggest a filter slope of no more than BLANK.
12 dB per octave
True or False: According to Stevens et al Int J Audiol 2013, the nape to high forehead electrode configuration produced the greatest amount of noise.
True
Which of the following conditions is less likely to produce observable AEPs at the scalp?
Closed field
True or False: Far-field responses have increased spatial resolution.
False
True or False: Action potentials travel long distances without a reduction in amplitude.
True
ABR Wave I originates from which anatomic structure?
Distal end of the 8th nerve
Which of the following statements is true regarding Heschl’s Gyrus?
The neurons on either sides of the gyrus are oriented at an angle to each other.
Which of the following statements regarding signal averaging is true?
The noise is truly random
A filter which reduces a signal above a given frequency but lets lower frequency energy pass through is known as BLANK
A low-pass filter
Which of the following statements is true regarding rarefaction polarity?
With rarefaction polarity, the TM is displaced laterally.
Which classification of evoked potentials is sensitive to the psychological state of the subject?
Endogenous
Which components are produced by a transient stimulus in the middle latency range?
Na, Pa, Nb
The cortex is more effective at producing relatively large scalp potentials for all but the following reasons:
The dipoles are oriented horizontally
Which of the following generalizations is true about early vs. late potentials?
The shorter latency potentials have less variability than the longer latency potentials.
For threshold measurement in infants, what recording window should be used?
25-30
When obtaining toneburst thresholds in infants, which rate is not so fast to degrade the response and not so slow to unnecessarily prolong testing times?
27.1 to 39.1/sec
What polarity is recommended for recording with a 500 Hz toneburst?
Alternating
Because the infant ABR is dominated by low frequency energy, what cut-off frequency is recommended for high-pass filter?
30 Hz
What are the recommended rise/fall and plateau times for a 2000 Hz toneburst?
1 ms rise/fall and 0 ms plateau
The click-evoked ABR estimates auditory function in which frequency range?
1000-4000 Hz
True or False: A disadvantage of using linear ramping for tone-burst testing is reduced frequency selectivity.
True
How many sweeps should be obtained when recording to a particular frequency and intensity level.
As many sweeps as are needed to produce a reliable response
What kind of ramping is recommended for toneburst ABRs?
Nonlinear Blackman
The advantages of earlobe rather than mastoid placement for the reference electrode include all but the following:
Wave I is larger for the mastoid placement
Reasons for starting the infant ABR with a click recording include all but the following:
The click signal is the least likely to produce a clear and reliable response
Mean narrowband chirp amplitude is how much larger than mean toneburst amplitude at 4000 Hz.
1.6
The following is true of the chirp stimulus:
Lower frequencies are presented before higher frequencies to compensate for the cochlear wave traveling way delay.
True or False: ASSR amplitudes are significantly larger in response to mixed modulation tones than in response to amplitude modulated tones alone.
True