Acoustic change complex for assessing speech discrimination in normal-hearing and hearing-impaired infants

Abstract

ObjectiveThis study examined (1) the utility of a clinical system to record acoustic change complex (ACC, an event-related potential recorded by electroencephalography) for assessing speech discrimination in infants, and (2) the relationship between ACC and functional performance in real life. MethodsParticipants included 115 infants (43 normal-hearing, 72 hearing-impaired), aged 3–12 months. ACCs were recorded using [szs], [uiu], and a spectral rippled noise high-pass filtered at 2 kHz as stimuli. Assessments were conducted at age 3–6 months and at 7–12 months. Functional performance was evaluated using a parent-report questionnaire, and correlations with ACC were examined. ResultsThe rates of onset and ACC responses of normal-hearing infants were not significantly different from those of aided infants with mild or moderate hearing loss but were significantly higher than those with severe loss. On average, response rates measured at 3–6 months were not significantly different from those at 7–12 months. Higher rates of ACC responses were significantly associated with better functional performance. ConclusionsACCs demonstrated auditory capacity for discrimination in infants by 3–6 months. This capacity was positively related to real-life functional performance. SignificanceACCs can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of amplification and monitor development in aided hearing-impaired infants.