A Comparative Analysis of Click ABR and Multi-ASSR in Assessing Infant Hearing: A Cross-Sectional Study.

UNLABELLED

Introduction: This study investigates the comparative effectiveness of Click Auditory Brainstem Response (Click ABR) and Multiple Auditory Steady-State Response (Multi-ASSR) in identifying hearing impairments in infants. Recognizing auditory issues early is crucial for a child's cognitive and language development, as emphasized by the Joint Committee on Infant Hearing (JCIH) and the American Academy of Audiology (AAA). While Click ABR is widely utilized, Multi-ASSR offers a modern technique for detailed hearing assessment. Methods: A comparative analysis was conducted on 111 infants aged 1-6 months, previously screened for hearing at a tertiary care centre. The study employed both Click ABR and Multi-ASSR to evaluate their respective efficacy in assessing infant hearing. Results: Click ABR detected normal hearing in 87.4% of the infants, slightly higher than Multi-ASSR's 84.7%. A noteworthy finding was the higher incidence of bilateral versus unilateral hearing loss, with Click ABR identifying bilateral loss in 10 infants and unilateral loss in 4, compared to Multi-ASSR, which found bilateral loss in 12 infants and unilateral loss in 5. There was a minor but significant difference in auditory thresholds between the methods, with a mean discrepancy of 1.2 dB and a significant statistical variance (-value of 15;  < 0.001), indicating variations in sensitivity. Conclusion: Both Click ABR and Multi-ASSR are indispensable tools in paediatric audiology, each with unique advantages. Click ABR excels in efficiency, suitable for rapid assessments and early detection. In contrast, Multi-ASSR offers comprehensive frequency-specific data, facilitating thorough evaluations. Healthcare professionals must grasp these methods' strengths to optimize infant hearing screenings and enhance early intervention strategies, aligning with JCIH and AAA guidelines.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12070-024-04639-2.