Brain Stem Electric Response Audiometry (Bsera)

Abstract

Brain stem electric responses, recorded with external electrodes on vertex and ear lobes, are excellent for audiometry of young children. The vertex-positive wave with latency of 6 to 9 msec resembles closely the action potential of the auditory nerve, with the same high-intensity short-latency component and low-intensity long-latency component. Thresholds are reliable with filtered clicks at 1 000 Hz and higher. Practical advantages and theoretical limitations are summarized.