Sensory Processing of Backward-Masking Signals in Children With Language-Learning Impairment As Assessed With the Auditory Brainstem Response

The purpose of this study was to examine the possible contribution of sensory mechanisms to an auditory processing deficit shown by some children with language-learning impairment (LLI). Auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) were measured from 2 groups of school-aged (8–10 years) children. One group consisted of 10 children with LLI, and the other group (control) consisted of 10 children with normally developing language. The ABR was elicited with a brief tone burst presented either alone (no-masking condition) or immediately followed by a longer duration noise burst (backward-masking condition). The primary dependent variable was the latency of wave V of the ABR. The mean latencies were not significantly different for the 2 groups in the no-masking condition. However, in the backward-masking condition, the mean latency for the LLI group was significantly increased relative to the mean latency for the control group. Thus, the presence of successive sounds delay the neural response in children with LLI. The explanation for this delay at the level of the brainstem is not known, but it may be due to disruption of synchrony, activation of alternate (less direct) pathways, increased inhibition, or some combination of these (or other) factors.

Download Full-text

Auditory Brainstem Response, Middle Latency Response, and Late Cortical Evoked Potentials in Children with Learning Disabilities

Journal of the American Academy of Audiology ◽

10.1055/s-0040-1715981 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 13 (07) ◽

pp. 367-382 ◽

Cited By ~ 34

Author(s):

Suzanne C. Purdy ◽

Andrea S. Kelly ◽

Merren G. Davies

Keyword(s):

Evoked Potentials ◽

Auditory Processing ◽

Auditory Evoked Potentials ◽

Auditory Brainstem ◽

Auditory Memory ◽

Auditory Brainstem Responses ◽

Control Group ◽

Cortical Responses ◽

Brainstem Response ◽

Middle Latency

Auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) and behavioral tests were used to evaluate auditory processing in 10 children aged 7 to 11 years who were diagnosed as learning disabled (LD). AEPs included auditory brainstem responses (ABRs), middle latency responses (MLRs), and late cortical responses (P1, N1, P2, P3). Late cortical responses were recorded using an active listening oddball procedure. Auditory processing disorders were suspected in the LD children after a psychologist found phonologic processing and auditory memory problems. A control group of 10 age- and gender-matched children with no hearing or reported learning difficulties was also tested. Teacher ratings of classroom listening and SCAN Competing Words and Staggered Spondaic Word scores were poorer in the LD children. There were minor ABR latency differences between the two groups. Wave Na of the MLR was later and Nb was smaller in the LD group. The main differences in cortical responses were that P1 was earlier and P3 was later and smaller in the LD group.

Download Full-text

Speech Evoked Auditory Brainstem Response in Stuttering

Scientifica ◽

10.1155/2014/328646 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2014 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Ali Akbar Tahaei ◽

Hassan Ashayeri ◽

Akram Pourbakht ◽

Mohammad Kamali

Keyword(s):

Auditory Processing ◽

Auditory Pathway ◽

Auditory Brainstem ◽

Auditory Brainstem Responses ◽

Control Group ◽

Central Auditory Processing ◽

Significant Group ◽

Speech Stimuli ◽

Brainstem Response ◽

Processing Deficits

Auditory processing deficits have been hypothesized as an underlying mechanism for stuttering. Previous studies have demonstrated abnormal responses in subjects with persistent developmental stuttering (PDS) at the higher level of the central auditory system using speech stimuli. Recently, the potential usefulness of speech evoked auditory brainstem responses in central auditory processing disorders has been emphasized. The current study used the speech evoked ABR to investigate the hypothesis that subjects with PDS have specific auditory perceptual dysfunction.Objectives. To determine whether brainstem responses to speech stimuli differ between PDS subjects and normal fluent speakers.Methods. Twenty-five subjects with PDS participated in this study. The speech-ABRs were elicited by the 5-formant synthesized syllable/da/, with duration of 40 ms.Results. There were significant group differences for the onset and offset transient peaks. Subjects with PDS had longer latencies for the onset and offset peaks relative to the control group.Conclusions. Subjects with PDS showed a deficient neural timing in the early stages of the auditory pathway consistent with temporal processing deficits and their abnormal timing may underlie to their disfluency.

Download Full-text

Scalp Potentials Evoked by Amplitude-Modulated Tones in Dyslexia

Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research ◽

10.1044/jslhr.4004.939 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 40 (4) ◽

pp. 939-945 ◽

Cited By ~ 52

Author(s):

Ken I. McAnally ◽

John F. Stein

Keyword(s):

Amplitude Modulation ◽

Matched Control ◽

Auditory Brainstem ◽

Control Group ◽

Acoustic Stimuli ◽

Stimulus Energy ◽

Rapid Changes ◽

Brainstem Response ◽

History Of ◽

The Mean

We recorded the far-field EEG potential evoked by amplitude modulation of acoustic stimuli (the amplitude modulation following response, AMFR) in adults with developmental dyslexia and in a matched control group of adults with no history of reading problems. The mean AMFR recorded from participants with dyslexia was significantly smaller than that recorded from members of the control group. In contrast, the amplitude of the click-evoked auditory brainstem response ABR) was not significantly different between participant groups. Also, there was no difference between participant groups in the latency of the AMFR or ABR. The reduced AMFR in listeners with dyslexia may reflect impaired ability of the auditory system to follow rapid changes in stimulus energy, a cue believed to be important in the perception of speech.

Download Full-text

Central Auditory Evaluation of Patients with Spasmodic Dysphonia

Ear Nose & Throat Journal ◽

10.1177/014556139707601007 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 76 (10) ◽

pp. 710-715 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Michele L. Middleton ◽

Keith M. Wilson ◽

Robert W. Keith

Keyword(s):

Auditory Processing ◽

Auditory Pathway ◽

Auditory Brainstem ◽

Auditory Brainstem Responses ◽

Spasmodic Dysphonia ◽

Central Auditory Processing ◽

Cortical Function ◽

Brainstem Response ◽

Positive Scan ◽

High Stimulus

Spasmodic dysphonia is a focal laryngeal dystonia characterized by inappropriate contractions of the intrinsic laryngeal musculature. The prevalence of associated neurological findings has led to detailed investigation of the central nervous system. Previous research revealed latency abnormalities in patients’ auditory brainstem responses. The present study further investigated central auditory findings in patients with spasmodic dysphonia, including brainstem and cortical function. Fourteen normal-hearing patients with spasmodic dysphonia were tested using the auditory brainstem response (ABR) and SCAN-A test of central auditory processing. The ABR estimated brainstem transmission time and evaluated auditory pathway integrity at a high stimulus rate. SCAN-A assessed the auditory cerebral cortex. Implications of these findings are discussed. We found no ABR abnormalities in subjects with spasmodic dysphonia. Positive SCAN-A findings were negligible. The ABR findings contradict previous reports.

Download Full-text

Speech evoked auditory brainstem responses in children with learning disability

International Journal of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery ◽

10.18203/issn.2454-5929.ijohns20185294 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 101

Author(s):

Sachin . ◽

Sanjay Munjal ◽

Adarsh Kohli ◽

Naresh Panda ◽

Shantanu Arya

Keyword(s):

Learning Disability ◽

Auditory Processing ◽

Pure Tone Audiometry ◽

Biological Marker ◽

Auditory Brainstem ◽

Auditory Brainstem Responses ◽

Control Group ◽

Speech Sounds ◽

Speech Discrimination ◽

Efficient Tool

Background: Learning disabilities are characterized by significant impairments in acquisition of reading, spelling or arithmetic skills. A growing number of studies have used speech sounds to assess auditory processing to linguistic elements in children with learning disability. The present study seeks to report whether speech evoked Auditory Brainstem Responses can be used as a biological marker of deficient sound encoding in children with learning disability. The study aims to establish relationship between click evoked auditory brainstem responses (ABR) and speech evoked ABR in children with learning disability; to report whether speech evoked auditory brainstem responses can be used as a biological marker of deficient sound encoding in children with learning disability.Methods: Pure tone audiometry, immitance audiometery, click and speech evoked brainstem responses were obtained in 25 children diagnosed with learning disability and the data was compared with the responses in the control group. Results: Statistical differences were seen in speech recognition threshold, speech discrimination scores, latencies and amplitude of speech evoked auditory brainstem responses between control and study group. This poor representation of significant components of speech sounds in children with learning disability could be due to synaptic efficacy distortion and poor synaptic transmission. Other reasons may be activation of fewer auditory nerve fibres in the auditory brainstem in response to speech stimulus.Conclusions: The speech evoked auditory brainstem responses can serve as an efficient tool in identifying underlying auditory processing difficulties in children with learning disability and can help in early intervention.

Download Full-text

The Effect of Kalman-Weighted Averaging and Artifact Rejection on Residual Noise During Auditory Brainstem Response Testing

American Journal of Audiology ◽

10.1044/2018_aja-18-0123 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 28 (1) ◽

pp. 114-124

Author(s):

Linda W. Norrix ◽

Julie Thein ◽

David Velenovsky

Keyword(s):

Repeated Measures ◽

Auditory Brainstem ◽

Weighted Averaging ◽

Auditory Brainstem Responses ◽

Residual Noise ◽

Electrophysiological Recordings ◽

Artifact Rejection ◽

Brainstem Response ◽

Active Motor ◽

Averaging Time

Purpose Low residual noise (RN) levels are critically important when obtaining electrophysiological recordings of threshold auditory brainstem responses. In this study, we examine the effectiveness and efficiency of Kalman-weighted averaging (KWA) implemented on the Vivosonic Integrity System and artifact rejection (AR) implemented on the Intelligent Hearing Systems SmartEP system for obtaining low RN levels. Method Sixteen adults participated. Electrophysiological measures were obtained using simultaneous recordings by the Vivosonic and Intelligent Hearing Systems for subjects in 2 relaxed conditions and 4 active motor conditions. Three averaging times were used for the relaxed states (1, 1.5, and 3 min) and for the active states (1.5, 3, and 6 min). Repeated-measures analyses of variance were used to examine RN levels as a function of noise reduction strategy (i.e., KWA, AR) and averaging time. Results Lower RN levels were obtained using KWA than AR in both the relaxed and active motor states. Thus, KWA was more effective than was AR under the conditions examined in this study. Using KWA, approximately 3 min of averaging was needed in the relaxed condition to obtain an average RN level of 0.025 μV. In contrast, in the active motor conditions, approximately 6 min of averaging was required using KWA. Mean RN levels of 0.025 μV were not attained using AR. Conclusions When patients are not physiologically quiet, low RN levels are more likely to be obtained and more efficiently obtained using KWA than AR. However, even when using KWA, in active motor states, 6 min of averaging or more may be required to obtain threshold responses. Averaging time needed and whether a low RN level can be attained will depend on the level of motor activity exhibited by the patient.

Download Full-text

Comparisons of Auditory Brainstem Responses Between a Laboratory and Simulated Home Environment

Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research ◽

10.1044/2020_jslhr-20-00383 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 63 (11) ◽

pp. 3877-3892

Author(s):

Ashley Parker ◽

Candace Slack ◽

Erika Skoe

Keyword(s):

Home Environment ◽

Signal To Noise Ratio ◽

Auditory Brainstem ◽

Auditory Brainstem Responses ◽

Single Family ◽

Adult Participants ◽

Simulated Home Environment ◽

Brainstem Response ◽

Research Populations ◽

Response Consistency

Purpose Miniaturization of digital technologies has created new opportunities for remote health care and neuroscientific fieldwork. The current study assesses comparisons between in-home auditory brainstem response (ABR) recordings and recordings obtained in a traditional lab setting. Method Click-evoked and speech-evoked ABRs were recorded in 12 normal-hearing, young adult participants over three test sessions in (a) a shielded sound booth within a research lab, (b) a simulated home environment, and (c) the research lab once more. The same single-family house was used for all home testing. Results Analyses of ABR latencies, a common clinical metric, showed high repeatability between the home and lab environments across both the click-evoked and speech-evoked ABRs. Like ABR latencies, response consistency and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) were robust both in the lab and in the home and did not show significant differences between locations, although variability between the home and lab was higher than latencies, with two participants influencing this lower repeatability between locations. Response consistency and SNR also patterned together, with a trend for higher SNRs to pair with more consistent responses in both the home and lab environments. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate the feasibility of obtaining high-quality ABR recordings within a simulated home environment that closely approximate those recorded in a more traditional recording environment. This line of work may open doors to greater accessibility to underserved clinical and research populations.

Download Full-text

Glutathione Ester But Not Glutathione Protects Against Cisplatin-Induced Ototoxicity in a Rat Model

Journal of the American Academy of Audiology ◽

10.1055/s-0040-1716017 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 14 (03) ◽

pp. 124-133 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Kathleen C.M. Campbell ◽

Deb L. Larsen ◽

Robert P. Meech ◽

Leonard P. Rybak ◽

Larry F. Hughes

Keyword(s):

Auditory Brainstem Response ◽

Outer Hair Cell ◽

Tone Burst ◽

Auditory Brainstem ◽

Control Group ◽

Brainstem Response ◽

Group A ◽

Direct Administration ◽

Response Thresholds ◽

Para Determinar

Glutathione (GSH) provides an important antioxidant and detoxification pathway. We tested to determine if direct administration of GSH or GSH ester could reduce cisplatin- (CDDP) induced ototoxicity. We tested eight groups of five rats each: a control group, a group receiving 16 mg/kg ip CDDP infused over 30 minutes, and six groups receiving either GSH or GSH ester at 500, 1000, or 1500 mg/kg intraperitoneally 30 minutes prior to 16 mg/kg CDDP. Auditory brainstem response thresholds were measured for click and tone-burst stimuli at baseline and 3 days later. Outer hair cell (OHC) loss was measured for the apical, middle and basal turns. The 500 mg/kg GSH ester reduced hearing loss and OHC loss, but protection decreased as dosage increased, suggesting possible toxicity. GSH was not significantly protective. The best GSH ester protection was less than we have previously reported with D-methionine. El glutatión (GSH) brinda una importante vía antioxidante y de cetoxificación. Realizamos una prueba para determinar si la administración directa de GSH o del éster de GSH podía reducir la ototoxicidad inducida por cisplatino (CDDP). Hicimos una evaluación en ocho grupos de cinco ratas cada uno: un grupo control, un grupo que recibió CDDP intraperitoneal a 16 mg/kg en una ínfusión durante 30 minutos y seis grupos que recibieron intraperitonealmente GSH o el éster de GSH a 500, 1000 o 1500 mg/kg, 30 minutos antes del CDDP a 16 mg/kg. Se midieron umbrales de respuestas auditivas del tallo cerebral tanto para clicks como para bursts tonales, al inicio y 3 días después. La pérdida de células ciliadas externas (OHC) fue establecida a nivel de las vueltas apical, media y basal. La dosis de 500 mg/kg de éster de GSH redujo la hipoacusia y la pérdida de OHC, pero la protección disminuyó conforme la dosis se incrementó, sugiriendo una posible toxicidad. EL GSH no resultó significativamente protector. El mejor efecto protector del éster de GSH fue menor que el previamente reportado con D-Metionina.

Download Full-text

Auditory Brainstem Responses to Successive Sounds: Effects of Gap Duration and Depth

Audiology Research ◽

10.3390/audiolres11010005 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 38-46

Author(s):

Fan-Yin Cheng ◽

Craig A. Champlin

Keyword(s):

Background Noise ◽

Tone Burst ◽

Auditory Brainstem ◽

Auditory Brainstem Responses ◽

Physical Parameters ◽

Temporal Acuity ◽

Harmonic Complex ◽

Rapid Changes ◽

Brainstem Response ◽

Physiological Correlate

Temporal acuity is the ability to differentiate between sounds based on fluctuations in the waveform envelope. The proximity of successive sounds and background noise diminishes the ability to track rapid changes between consecutive sounds. We determined whether a physiological correlate of temporal acuity is also affected by these factors. We recorded the auditory brainstem response (ABR) from human listeners using a harmonic complex (S1) followed by a brief tone burst (S2) with the latter serving as the evoking signal. The duration and depth of the silent gap between S1 and S2 were manipulated, and the peak latency and amplitude of wave V were measured. The latency of the responses decreased significantly as the duration or depth of the gap increased. The amplitude of the responses was not affected by the duration or depth of the gap. These findings suggest that changing the physical parameters of the gap affects the auditory system’s ability to encode successive sounds.

Download Full-text

Antioxidant Enzyme Levels Inversely Covary with Hearing Loss After Amikacin Treatment

Journal of the American Academy of Audiology ◽

10.1055/s-0040-1715718 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 14 (03) ◽

pp. 134-143 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

James J. Klemens ◽

Robert P. Meech ◽

Larry F. Hughes ◽

Satu Somani ◽

Kathleen C.M. Campbell

Keyword(s):

Hearing Loss ◽

Enzyme Activity ◽

Antioxidant Enzyme ◽

Guinea Pigs ◽

Auditory Brainstem ◽

Antioxidant Enzyme Activity ◽

Control Group ◽

Glutathione S Transferase ◽

Brainstem Response ◽

The Difference

This study's purpose was to determine if a correlation exists between cochlear antioxidant activity changes and auditory function after induction of aminoglycoside (AG) ototoxicity. Two groups of five 250-350 g albino guinea pigs served as subjects. For 28 days, albino guinea pigs were administered either 200 mg/kg/day amikacin, or saline subcutaneously. Auditory brainstem response testing was performed prior to the first injection and again before sacrifice, 28 days later. Cochleae were harvested and superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione reductase activities and malondialdehyde levels were measured. All antioxidant enzymes had significantly lower activity in the amikacin group (p ≤ 0.05) than in the control group. The difference in cochlear antioxidant enzyme activity between groups inversely correlated significantly with the change in ABR thresholds. The greatest correlation was for the high frequencies, which are most affected by aminoglycosides. This study demonstrates that antioxidant enzyme activity and amikacin-induced hearing loss significantly covary.

Download Full-text