[Problems of a frequency-specific threshold measurement with the brainstem potentials using the otometric sound pressure signal (damped wavetrain) (author's transl)].

This study aimes at investigating if the damped wavetrain stimulus (Victoreen) may be used in the evaluation of frequency specific thresholds using brainstem potentials. Stimulus frequencies were 1, 4, and 8 kHz. Starting with a control group (10 persons) latency curves for the brainstem potentials were established. The test group included patients with various forms of sensorineural hearing loss in the audiogram. Threshold measurements at the three stimulus frequencies were done with these patients using the potential IV (Jewet V). The latency curves of the normal hearing control group reveal a frequency-specific information being present in the brainstem potentials. This can be derived from latency shifts at different stimulus frequencies. However, investigating patients with a steep slope or a notch in the pure-tone audiogram introduces some difficulties in the ERA-threshold evaluation.