A Predictive Model for Tone Burst Auditory Brainstem Response Thresholds in Infants

MA Xiaobao; SHEN Jiali; WANG Wei; SUN Jin; WANG Lu; HE Kuan; YANG Jun; CHEN Xiangping; CHEN Jianyong

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1672-2922.2024.04.007

Abstract：Objective To report a methodology to predict tone burst auditory brainstem responses(tb-ABRs)thresholds at 1000,2000 and 4000 Hz via a combination of click auditory brainstem responses(c-ABR)and 500 Hz bone burst ABR(tb-500)thresholds,for tb-ABR thresholds estimation in young children.Methods A total of 65 infants(2 to 36 months,average age=13.9±2.8 months,118 ears)were tested.ABR response thresholds clicks,tb-500 Hz,tb-1000 Hz,tb-2000 Hz and tb-4000 Hz were obtained.Data from 60 ears were used to establish multiple linear regression models of thresholds for tb-1000Hz,tb-2000Hz and tb-4000Hz,while data of the remaining 58 ears were used to verify the models by comparing predicted thresholds with measured tb-1000 Hz,tb-2000 Hz,tb-4000 Hz thresholds by paired t-test and Bland-Altman test.Results The multiple linear regression models for tb-1000 Hz,tb-2000 Hz and tb-4000 Hz were:Y1=1.698+0.578X1+0.382X2,R2=0.924,P<0.001;Y2=1.814+0.230X1+0.722X2,R2=0.933,P<0.001;and Y4=4.735-0.018X1+0.969X2,R2=0.920,P<0.001,resspectively.Paired t test showed no significant difference between predicted and measured thresholds for tb-1000Hz(P=0.271),but statistically significant differences for tb-2000Hz and tb-4000Hz(P=0.006 and P=0.008,respectively).Bland-Altman results indicated that the possibility of 95%confidence interval(CI)for the difference between measured and predicted thresholds exceeding the 95%limits of agreement(LoA)was<5%for all three target frequencies.Conclusion The multiple linear regression models in this study can be used to pre-dict tb-1000 Hz,tb-2000 Hz and tb-4000 Hz thresholds in young children by testing only c-ABR and tb-500 Hz when facing time constraints.