Eeg Audiometry in Children Under Three Years of Age

Abstract

EEG-evoked response audiometry was performed on 241 children under 3 years of age. One hundred were patients referred for evaluation of hearing and 141 were normal children. A total of 498 recordings were made, usually during sleep. Many children in the patient group had severe mental or neurological impairments which made assessment by clinical audiometry difficult. Evoked response audiometry often provided more complete diagnostic information earlier than could be obtained by other methods. In some normal infants, especially under 6 months of age, evoked response thresholds during sleep were elevated. It was possible to improve measurements near threshold by modifying recording techniques. We conclude that EEG-evoked response audiometry is a valuable means of assessing the auditory capacity of the young or handicapped patient.