Air- and bone-conduction brainstem auditory evoked potentials and flash visual evoked potentials in cats

Abstract

SUMMARY Objective -To document normal values for air- and bone-conducted brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP) and for flash visual evoked potentials (VEP) in cats. Animals 10 mixed-breed cats (5 males) with normal physical, neurologic, otoscopic, and funduscopic examination results. Procedure BAEP in response to air- and bone-conducted click stimuli and VEP in response to flash stimuli were recorded to document species normative data. Mean and SD values were calculated for amplitudes and latencies of 4 peaks in the BAEP in response to air- and bone-conducted stimuli, and for latencies to 5 peaks and the 4 associated peak-to-peak amplitudes in the VEP. Results BAEP peak latencies increased and peak amplitudes decreased with decreasing stimulus intensity. Latencies were shorter for bone-conducted stimuli owing to the shorter transit time to the cochlea through bone, compared with air, but there were no differences for interpeak latencies. The BAEP and VEP recordings were similar to those reported for cats in other reports and were similar to those seen in other species. Clinical Relevance Normative data will permit performance of noninvasive electrodiagnostic evaluation of feline auditory and visual systems. (Am J Vet Res 1998;59:135–137)