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Reference (APA Format)

John M.S., Dimitrijevic A. & Picton T.W. 2003. Efficient stimuli for evoking auditory steady-state responses. Ear and Hearing, 24 (5), 406-423.

Title

Efficient stimuli for evoking auditory steady-state responses

Journal Name

Ear and Hearing

Abstract

Objective: To compare the magnitudes of the steady-state responses evoked by several types of stimuli, and the times required to recognize these responses as significant.

Design: In the first two experiments, we examined auditory steady-state responses to pure tones, broadband noise and band-limited noise. The stimuli were amplitude modulated in the 75 to 100 Hz range with sinusoidal or exponential envelopes. A third experiment investigated the effects of exponential envelopes on the responses to broadband noise. The final experiment examined auditory steady-state responses evoked by rapidly presented transient stimuli, such as clicks, brief tones and brief noise-bursts. All stimuli were presented dichotically at intensities 30 to 50 dB above behavioral thresholds. The subjects were adults, who drowsed or slept during the recording sessions.

Results: The responses to the noise were larger than the responses to the tones. At an intensity of 32 dB nHL, the average amount of time needed to obtain significant responses for the amplitude-modulated noise was 43 sec and the maximum time was 2 minutes. The average time for pure tone stimuli was approximately 2 minutes but 25% of the responses remained undetected after 5 minutes. Combining the responses to all the frequency-specific stimuli showed results similar to using noise stimuli. Using exponential envelopes did not increase response amplitudes for noise stimuli. At 45 dB nHL, the steady-state responses to clicks and other transient stimuli were larger than responses to the broadband noise. The average time to detect steady-state responses to transient stimuli was approximately 20 sec, which was a little faster than for amplitude modulated noise.

Conclusions: Auditory steady-state potentials evoked by amplitude modulated noise or transient stimuli might be useful in providing rapid and objective tests of hearing during screening procedures. Another approach might be to record responses to multiple frequency-specific stimuli and to evaluate the combined responses for a rapid indication that some hearing is present.

Volume

24 (5)

Year

2003

Pages

406-423

Authors

John M.S., Dimitrijevic A. & Picton T.W.

More Information

Publisher: LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS, 530 WALNUT ST, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19106-3621 USA Subject Category: Otorhinolaryngology IDS Number: 747CJ ISSN: 0196-0202 DOI: 10.1097/01.AUD.0000090442.37624.BE