Physiological assessment of cochlear and auditory nerve integrity in children suspected of auditory processing disorder

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) recommends to include electrophysiological measures in their auditory processing disorder (APD) assessment battery. But few audiologist include electrophysiological assessment due to lack of evidence. There is strong evidence of auditory brainstem abnormality in these children. However, very less is understood about stimulus processing within the cochlea, auditory brainstem coding in noise (ipsilateral) and the thalmocortical functioning in APD children. As these evoked responses provide information regarding pre-neural processing, functioning of low spontaneous discharge rate (LSDR) fibers and upper-brainstem, respectively. With slight modification, these responses can be recorded using clinically available two-channel auditory evoked potential (AEP) system. In collaboration with Vivosonic. Inc, their existing AEP system will be improvised to record the electrocochleography, auditory brainstem responses in noise and the middle latency responses to a click and chirp stimulus. Evoked responses will be recorded from children sAPD, typically developing children and adults. The outcome of this project will provide novel information regarding the pre-neural and neural processing of acoustic stimuli in children sAPD. The collected data can be used in differential diagnosis of other auditory disorders such as auditory neuropathy.

Faculty Supervisor:

Prudence Allen

Student:

Sangamanatha Ankmnal veeranna

Partner:

Western University

Discipline:

Medicine

Sector:

Medical devices

University:

Program: