[An optimal electrode position for recording auditory evoked brain stem potentials within the scope of pediatric audiology].

BACKGROUND

Estimation of hearing threshold in children is based on reliable identification of a response to a stimulus in the near-threshold range. It is well known that only wave V can be detected in brainstem potentials evoked by near-threshold stimuli. So the question arises as to whether or not a noncephalic reference electrode compared to the common lateral postition of the reference electrode on the ipsilateral mastoid produces a more stable wave V of increased amplitude.

METHOD

Thirty-three normal hearing children in three age groups (< 6 years, 6-10 years, > 10 years) were investigated. For a near-threshold stimulation with 100-microsecond-clicks (10, 20, 30 dB nHL), bioactivity was simultaneously recorded with the reference electrode in four different locations (ipsilateral mastoid, contralateral mastoid, ipsilateral earlobe, and noncephalic electrode).

RESULTS

The noncephalic reference produced the highest absolute and scaled amplitudes. This finding was statistically significant. For all investigated intensities, recording with the noncephalic reference electrode yielded the highest number of reliable detectable potentials. Evaluation of the residual noise in the four recording locations revealed a significantly increased noise level for the noncephalic electrode at the nape of the neck.

CONCLUSIONS

Even if the residual noise is increased, the use of noncephalic reference results in a more reliable detection of wave V compared to the conventional locations of the reference electrode.