Extended high-frequency hearing and suprathreshold neural synchrony in the auditory brainstem

Elevated hearing thresholds in the extended high frequencies (EHFs) (>8 kHz) are often associated with poorer speech-in-noise recognition despite a clinically normal audiogram. However, whether EHF hearing loss is associated with disruptions in neural processing within the auditory brainstem remains uncertain. The objective of the present study was to investigate whether elevated EHF thresholds influence neural processing at lower frequencies in individuals with normal audiograms. Auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) were recorded at a suprathreshold level (80 dB normal hearing level) from 45 participants with clinically normal hearing. The recording protocol was optimized to obtain robust wave I of the ABR. Results revealed no significant relationship between the pure tone average for EHFs and any ABR metrics at either rate, while adjusting for the effects of age, sex, and hearing thresholds at standard frequencies (0.25-8 kHz). Rate-dependent significant sex effects for wave I and V amplitude, I-V amplitude ratio, and III and V latency were observed. Elevated EHF hearing thresholds do not significantly affect the brainstem processing in the lower frequencies (<8 kHz).