Research on the correlation between auditory brainstem response and behavioral hearing thresholds in infants and children with sensorineural hearing loss

WANG Lu; MA Xiaobao; WANG Wei; SHEN Jiali; HE Kuan; JIN Yulian; YANG Jun; ZHENG Guiliang; LOU Gaozhong; ZHAO Zhehong; CHEN Jianyong

doi:10.12372/jcp.2025.25e0828

2025 , Vol. 43 >Issue 12: 940 - 946

DOI: https://doi.org/10.12372/jcp.2025.25e0828

Original Article

Research on the correlation between auditory brainstem response and behavioral hearing thresholds in infants and children with sensorineural hearing loss

WANG Lu ,
MA Xiaobao ,
WANG Wei ,
SHEN Jiali ,
HE Kuan ,
JIN Yulian ,
YANG Jun ,
ZHENG Guiliang ,
LOU Gaozhong ,
ZHAO Zhehong ,
CHEN Jianyong

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1. Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, Zhejiang, China
2. Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine of Ear and Nose Disease, Shanghai 200092, China
3. Department of Otolaryngology, Hangzhou Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Hangzhou Children’s Hospital, Hangzhou 310000, Zhejiang, China
4. Department of Otolaryngology, Shaoxing Central Hospital, Shaoxing 312030, Zhejiang, China

Received date: 2025-07-14

Accepted date: 2025-09-22

Online published: 2025-11-28

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Abstract

Objective To investigate the correlation between auditory brainstem response (ABR) thresholds and behavioral hearing thresholds in infants and children with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), and to establish calibration factors for tone burst ABR (Tb-ABR) and behavioral thresholds across frequencies, providing clinical reference for predicting behavioral hearing thresholds. Methods From February 2014 to September 2022, children diagnosed with SNHL in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery were enrolled as subjects. Each participant underwent click-ABR and Tb-ABR testing at 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz. Behavioral hearing thresholds were obtained during follow-up visits. Correlation analyses between ABR thresholds and behavioral thresholds were conducted across frequencies. Differences between Tb-ABR and behavioral thresholds were compared, and regression equations along with calibration factors were derived. Results A total of 61 children (118 ears) with SNHL were included, comprising 40 boys (77 ears) and 21 girls (41 ears). The median age at ABR testing was 1.9 (0.7-3.4) years, and the median age at behavioral testing was 3.4 (2.0-4.4) years. Click-ABR thresholds showed correlations of 0.73 and 0.74 with behavioral hearing thresholds at 2000 Hz and 4 000 Hz, respectively. Strong correlations were observed between Tb-ABR thresholds and behavioral thresholds at all tested frequencies (r=0.82~0.87, P<0.01). The linear regression equations for predicting behavioral thresholds based on Tb-ABR thresholds were as follows, 500 Hz: y=0.87x+2.55, 1 000 Hz: y=0.89x+4.29, 2 000 Hz: y=0.79x+14.70, 4 000 Hz: y=0.99x+0.84. When the Tb-ABR threshold is 50, 70 and 90 dB nHL at frequencies of 500, 1 000, 2 000 and 4 000 Hz, the calibration factors are 5, 10, 10 dB, 5, 5, 10 dB, 0, 5, 5 dB and 0, 0, 0 dB, respectively. Conclusions Tb-ABR thresholds are strongly correlated with behavioral hearing thresholds in young children with SNHL. The derived calibration factors and regression equations can effectively predict behavioral hearing thresholds, offering valuable guidance for the accurate fitting of hearing aids in this population.

Key words： sensorineural hearing loss; tone-burst auditory brainstem response; behavioral audiometry; follow-up; child

Cite this article

WANG Lu , MA Xiaobao , WANG Wei , SHEN Jiali , HE Kuan , JIN Yulian , YANG Jun , ZHENG Guiliang , LOU Gaozhong , ZHAO Zhehong , CHEN Jianyong . Research on the correlation between auditory brainstem response and behavioral hearing thresholds in infants and children with sensorineural hearing loss[J]. Journal of Clinical Pediatrics, 2025 , 43(12) : 940 -946 . DOI: 10.12372/jcp.2025.25e0828

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