Behavioral threshold estimation and test-taking time of two auditory brainstem response computer automated screening protocols: Seek and chained-stimuli

Twenty-six individuals with mild-to-moderate sensorineural hearing loss were tested using automated procedures for obtaining auditory brainstem responses (ABR). This study addressed the following questions: (a) Is there a statistically significant difference between the thresholds obtained with the “Seek” threshold procedure and the “Chained-Stimuli” threshold procedure? (b) Is there a statistically significant difference between the test-time required to obtain thresholds for the “Seek” and “Chained-Stimuli” procedures? (c) What is the relationship between Wave V thresholds for clicks and pure-tone thresholds? Analysis revealed no significant difference between thresholds obtained with the “Seek” and “Chained-Stimuli” protocol. However, it was found that there was a statistically significant difference between test times of the two screening protocols. It was also found that auditory brainstem response thresholds for both protocols are best coorelated with behavioral thresholds at the HFPTA (high frequency pure tone average).