Physiological methods in audiology

Question 1

Name 3 types of physiological testing.

Answer 1

1. ABR (auditory brainstem response)
2. ASSR (auditory steady state response)
3. OAE (otoacoustic emissions)

Question 2

What are OAEs measuring?

Answer 2

The OHCs

Question 3

Can OAEs be measuring if the 8th cranial nerve has been severed?

Answer 3

Yes

Question 4

Can OAEs be measuring if there is a middle ear pathology?

Answer 4

No

Question 5

When we get a pass result for OAEs, this indicates that the ______ and the _____ are functioning properly.

Answer 5

Middle ear and OHCs

Question 6

Name the four types of OAEs

Answer 6

1. SOAES (spontaneous)
2. SFOAES (stimulus-frequency)
3. TEAOE (transient-evoked)
4. DPOAE (distortion-product)

Question 7

Why don’t we use SOAES in clinic?

Answer 7

Because they are only able to measure up to 30 dB, which means they cannot identify hearing loss.

Question 8

Name the two types of OAEs that are used in clinic?

Answer 8

1. TEOAE
2. DPOAE

Question 9

Which OAE is used for hearing screenings? Why?

Answer 9

TEOAE, because they can detect hearing loss starting at 30-50 dB

Question 10

Name 3 differences between TEOOAE and DPOAE

Answer 10

1. TEOAE is quicker, DPOAE is slower
2. TEOAE needs quiet, DPOAE can have a noisy environment
3. TEOAE is most sensitive up to 2kHz where DPOAE is most sensitive above 4kHz

Question 11

What is the difference between ABR and ASSR?

Answer 11

ABR is better for neurodiagnostics and ASSR is better for threshold search because ABR can only go up to 80 dB HL and ASSR can go up to 120 dB HL, so ASSR can detect more profound losses.

Question 12

When would we refer someone to do an ABR? Name at least 5 examples.

Answer 12

1. Asymmetrical hearing loss
2. Unilateral tinnitus
3. Vertigo
4. Sudden hearing loss
5. People who have a poor WRS with normal/mild thresholds

Question 13

What are the 4 kinds of ABR?

Answer 13

1. Short latency
2. Middle latency
3. Long latency
4. Event related potentials

Question 14

What area does short-latency ABR measure? Which waves are involved?

Answer 14

It measures the hindbrain, and uses the waves I, II, III, IV, V and V being most important

Question 15

What area does middle-latency ABR measure? Which waves are involved?

Answer 15

It measures the midbrain, and uses Pa, Pb, Na, Nb

Question 16

What area does long-latency ABR measure? Which waves are involved

Answer 16

Forebrain, and waves P1, N1, P2, N2

Question 17

What wave is used for event-related potentials?

Answer 17

P3 or P300

Question 18

Name 5 parameters important for ABR

Answer 18

1. Latency
2. Interlatency
3. Amplitude
4. Morphology
5. Reproductibility

Question 19

How many electrodes are used for ABR? Whats the name of the most important electrode?

Answer 19

4.
The ground

Question 20

What filters are used for adult ABR and child ABR?

Answer 20

Adult: 100-3000 Hz
Child: 30 Hz

Question 21

What is the benefit of using a two channel ABR?

Answer 21

When using two channels we are able to measure ipsi and contra

Question 22

Name 4 things that can impact/interfere with ABR results.

Answer 22

1. Age
2. Sex
3. Medication
4. Temperature

Question 23

Which ABR wave is most amplified for newborns?

Answer 23

Wave I

Question 24

Is latency longer for adults or for children?

Answer 24

Children

Question 25

How sensitive is ABR to retrocochlear disorders?

Answer 25

95%

Question 26

Name the four disorders that are commonly seen on ABR

Answer 26

1. Acoustic neuroma 2. Multiple sclerosis 3. Parkinsons 4. ANSD

Question 27

Which ear is abnormal and why?

Answer 27

The left ear because a normal ear would have an SNR of at least 6 dB or higher

Question 28

Name the two types of stimuli used for ABR

Answer 28

1. Click 2. Tone-burst

Question 29

Name at least 5 things we can see in an abnormal ABR

Answer 29

1. Poor reproductibility 2. Poor morphology 3. Increased latency 4. Reduced amplitude (esp. wave V) 5. Increased interlatencies

Question 30

What is P300? what does it involve?

Answer 30

At P3 or P300, a patient can have a response to a stimuli that causes this wave to peak. We use the odd-ball procedure where we use a frequent signal and a rare signal.