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Relationship between behavioral hearing thresholds and estimated auditory steady-state response thresholds in children with a history of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia

  • Otology
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Abstract

Increased serum bilirubin levels during infancy increase the risk of hearing loss in infants. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between pure-tone audiometry hearing thresholds and thresholds estimated using auditory steady-state responses (ASSRs) in children with a history of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, and to evaluate the usefulness of 90-Hz ASSR in estimating hearing thresholds in children. This study was conducted on 26 children (13 girls and 13 boys) who were aged 2.4–11 years and had a history of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia (bilirubin level >17 mg/dL). ASSR thresholds were compared with behavioral thresholds and were interpreted after considering the amount and type of hearing loss. Of the 26 children, 12 had normal hearing thresholds, and 14 had varying degrees of sensorineural hearing loss. In general, a high correlation (r ≥ 0.81, p < 0.01) was found between the ASSR and behavioral thresholds. The highest correlation was observed at 2,000 Hz (r = 0.88, p < 0.01). No significant difference was observed (p > 0.13) between mean behavioral and ASSR thresholds at 52 studied ears. The results of this study showed that 90-Hz ASSR assessments provide reliable estimates of behavioral hearing thresholds in children who have a history of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia and sensorineural hearing loss or normal hearing.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Tehran University of Medical Sciences Research Grant Agreement No. 745/4D/A26/C, dated 31.10.2011. We appreciated the assistance of the Rehabilitation Research Center (RRC) of Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS) and Health Services in conducting the research. We greatly appreciate the cooperation and assistance of Ms. Roqieh Salehi and Mr. Reza Sadeghi in this study.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Audiology, School of Rehabilitation, Rehabilitation Research Center (RRC), Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Tehran, Iran

    Rasool Panahi & Sara Hasani

  2. Department of Basic Sciences in Rehabilitation, Rehabilitation Research Center (RRC), School of Rehabilitation Sciences, IRAN University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Nezam Alley, Shahnazari St., Mother Sq., Mirdamad Blvd., P.O.Box 15875-4391, Tehran, Iran

    Zahra Jafari

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  1. Rasool Panahi
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Correspondence to Zahra Jafari.

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Panahi, R., Jafari, Z. & Hasani, S. Relationship between behavioral hearing thresholds and estimated auditory steady-state response thresholds in children with a history of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 271, 2385–2392 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-013-2731-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-013-2731-6

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