Comparison of auditory steady-state response thresholds and test time using narrow-band chirps in normal hearing adults

Abstract

　　 Auditory steady-state response (ASSR) is objective audiometry with frequency specificity. Recently, two devices to assess ASSR using narrow-band chirps became commercially available. In this study, we compared the difference score (DS; threshold difference in ASSR and pure tone audiometry) and test time in 16 adults with normal hearing. The mean DS was within 20dB at all frequencies for both devices. The mean DS with SENTIERO was significantly smaller at 500Hz, and that with Eclipse was significantly smaller at 4000Hz. The mean test time was 24 minutes for SENTIERO and 21 minutes for Eclipse, with the test time being significantly shorter for Eclipse. Both devices were considered as being very useful.