[Auditory-evoked brainstem potentials and stapedius muscle reflex: intersubject variability].

Like other workers, we found gender differences in auditory-evoked brainstem response latencies. For the time being, this intersubject variability remains unexplained. This difference was observed only for wave V latency, and delta I-V is longer in men than in women, whereas delta I-III is identical. The absence of functional differences in the lower portion of the auditory tract is confirmed by both auditory-evoked brainstem potentials and stapedius reflex latency. Wave V latency and the influence of technical and anatomical factors are discussed as well.