Kensi M Cobb1, Andrew Stuart. 1. Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, East Carolina University , Greenville, NC , USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the test-retest reliability of auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) to air- and bone-conducted chirp stimuli in newborns as a function of intensity. DESIGN: A repeated measures quasi-experimental design was employed. STUDY SAMPLE: Thirty healthy newborns participated. ABRs were evoked using 60, 45, and 30 dB nHL air-conducted CE-Chirps and 45, 30, and 15 dB nHL bone-conducted CE-Chirps at a rate of 57.7/s. Measures were repeated by a second tester. RESULTS: Statistically significant correlations (p <.0001) and predictive linear relations (p <.0001) were found between testers for wave V latencies and amplitudes to air- and bone-conducted CE-Chirps. There were also no statistically significant differences between testers with wave V latencies and amplitudes to air- and bone-conducted CE-Chirps (p >.05). As expected, significant differences in wave V latencies and amplitudes were seen as a function of stimulus intensity for air- and bone-conducted CE-Chirps (p <.0001). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that ABRs to air- and bone-conducted CE-Chirps can be reliably repeated in newborns with different testers. The CE-Chirp may be valuable for both screening and diagnostic audiologic assessments of newborns.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the test-retest reliability of auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) to air- and bone-conducted chirp stimuli in newborns as a function of intensity. DESIGN: A repeated measures quasi-experimental design was employed. STUDY SAMPLE: Thirty healthy newborns participated. ABRs were evoked using 60, 45, and 30 dB nHL air-conducted CE-Chirps and 45, 30, and 15 dB nHL bone-conducted CE-Chirps at a rate of 57.7/s. Measures were repeated by a second tester. RESULTS: Statistically significant correlations (p <.0001) and predictive linear relations (p <.0001) were found between testers for wave V latencies and amplitudes to air- and bone-conducted CE-Chirps. There were also no statistically significant differences between testers with wave V latencies and amplitudes to air- and bone-conducted CE-Chirps (p >.05). As expected, significant differences in wave V latencies and amplitudes were seen as a function of stimulus intensity for air- and bone-conducted CE-Chirps (p <.0001). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that ABRs to air- and bone-conducted CE-Chirps can be reliably repeated in newborns with different testers. The CE-Chirp may be valuable for both screening and diagnostic audiologic assessments of newborns.