| Since the aging effect on the Auditory Brain stem Response (ABR) is still debated, this study attempted to investigate the possible influence of aging on the ABR absolute latencies of waves I, III, V and the interpeak intervals I-III, III-V, and I-V. The study was based on comparing the above mentioned ABR measurements between two groups of female subjects, Group One represented young subjects and Group Two represented elderly subjects. The study was conducted only on female subjects and all subjects were selected to have normal audiologic, otologic and neurologic profiles.; The results of this study indicated that the elderly group showed statistically significant longer ABR absolute latencies of waves I, III and V, even when the difference between groups in pure tone thresholds were controlled for. There was no statistically significant difference for the ABR interpeak intervals I-III, III-V and I-V with controlling for the group differences in pure tone air conduction thresholds. Pearson correlation coefficients indicated variable degrees of positive correlation between subjects' age and the ABR absolute latencies of waves I, III, V and the interpeak intervals III-V and I-V. Multiple correlation analysis indicated the presence of significant correlations between ABR absolute latencies of waves I, III, V and the interpeak interval I-V with subjects' age and the pure tone air conduction thresholds, however, age by itself was the only significant component of the multiple correlations. The data seem to indicate that the statistically significant group differences in the ABR absolute latencies of waves I, III and V are also clinically significant and that subjects' age should be considered for the interpretation of ABR. |
