Correlation between speech-evoked auditory brainstem responses and transient evoked otoacoustic emissions

Abstract

To investigate the correlation between cochlear processing and brainstem processing. Transient evoked otoacoustic emissions and speech-evoked auditory brainstem responses were recorded in 40 ears of normal-hearing individuals aged 18 to 23 years. Correlation analyses compared transient evoked otoacoustic emission parameters with speech-evoked auditory brainstem response parameters. There was a significant correlation between speech-evoked auditory brainstem response wave V latency and transient evoked otoacoustic emission global emission strength; there were no other significant correlations between the two tests. Tests for transient evoked otoacoustic emissions and speech-evoked auditory brainstem responses provide unique and functionally independent information about the integrity and sensitivity of the auditory system. Therefore, combining both tests will provide a more sensitive clinical battery with which to identify the location of different disorders (e.g. language-based learning impairments and hearing impairments).