Auditory brain stem responses and nonsense monosyllable perception test findings for patients with auditory nerve and brain stem lesions.

A nonsense monosyllable audiometric test was administered to 15 patients with eighth nerve or brain stem disorders caused by tumor, hemorrhage, encephalitis, and degenerative disease. Auditory brain stem responses (ABR) were abnormal in all patients. ABR abnormalities were defined by the absence of some or all waves or by prolongation of the wave V-I interval. The discrimination scores of the nonsense monosyllables were significantly lower in patients with completely absent ABR, with partial ABR series involving wave I, or with severely prolonged wave V-I intervals (over 3 SD). However, in patients with wave I only or with only moderately prolonged wave V-I intervals (less than 3 SD), test scores were within normal range. It is concluded that: 1. perception of nonsense monosyllables could be, though need not be, affected in patients with brain stem lesions; 2. eighth nerve lesions severely disrupt auditory comprehension as well as perception of nonsense monosyllables.