[On the reliability of brainstem electric response audiometry (BERA)]. / Zur Verlässlichkeit hirnstammaudiometrischer Hörschwellenbestimmungen.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Brainstem electric response audiometries (BERA) are in clinical use for a number of years. The aim of our study was to evaluate data regarding the long-term reliability of BERA-determined frequency specific thresholds in hearing disabled children. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a group of 97 hearing disabled children we sought to compare Notched-Noise- (NN) BERA threshold as well as Click-BERA thresholds taken shortly after birth with behavioral audiometry thresholds determined after 3.2 years (mean). RESULTS: We found a significant correlation between both BERA methods and the behavioral tests. However, the correlation coefficients for NN-BERA were higher than for Click-BERA thresholds. CONCLUSION: Our results provide evidence for a high reliability of the NN-BERA for characterization of early onset hearing disabilities in children. Our data suggest that pathologic findings in the Click-BERA should always be followed by a frequency specific analysis with NN-BERA.