The effect of real-ear adjusted chirp stimuli on auditory brainstem response threshold estimation and wave V parameters in children

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of an individually modified chirp stimulus adjusted using real-ear to coupler difference (RECD) values in improving the accuracy of auditory brainstem response (ABR) threshold estimation and wave V parameters in children. DESIGN: Prospective comparative randomised study. STUDY SAMPLE: and a modified RECD-chirp stimulus in 24 children (aged 2 months to 17 years). Wave V amplitude, latency, and threshold were compared. ABR thresholds for both stimuli were compared to behavioural thresholds in 12 children (24 ears). RESULTS: ) in linear regression models predicting behavioural thresholds. CONCLUSIONS: Individual modification of the chirp stimulus using measured RECD values significantly improves the accuracy of ABR threshold estimation in children and leads to faster neural synchronisation, as evidenced by shorter wave V latency. This method represents a promising advancement for obtaining ear- and frequency-specific thresholds in paediatric audiology.