Date of Award

Spring 1-1-2017

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

First Advisor

Anu Sharma

Second Advisor

Kathryn Hardin

Third Advisor

Neeraja Sadagopan

Abstract

Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder (ANSD), a type of hearing loss, is characterized by the presence of otoacoustic emissions and an absent/abnormal auditory brainstem response (ABR). This study investigated the potential utility of slow stimulus rate ABR in ANSD, including whether ABR morphology at a slow stimulus rate had valuable prognostic features. This retrospective case review comprised 4 children with ANSD. ABRs were recorded using a slow rate stimulus (5.1 CPS) and a faster rate (> 11.1 – 31.1 CPS). ABR waveform characteristics were compared between the rates and assessed for recognizable morphology. Results indicated that there was no improvement in ABR waveform morphology in the slow click rate ABR, suggesting that even when stimulus rates are greatly slowed, neural dys-synchrony persists at the level of the brainstem. Additionally, neither the slow nor faster click rate ABR had morphological features which could predict central auditory pathway maturation or cortical auditory evoked potentials.

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