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

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the correlation between cochlear processing and brainstem processing.

METHOD

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.

RESULTS

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.

CONCLUSION

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).