Correlation between age and gender, and parameters of auditory brainstem evoked response

Abstract

Objective To analyze the correlation between age and gender, and the auditory brainstem response (ABR).

Materials and methods Adult volunteers with no history of ear disease were tested. ABR parameters; stimulated by click stimuli at 90 and 80 dBnHL, were analyzed. They included 1) absolute latencies of waves I, III and V, 2) interpeak latency of I-III, III-V and I-V, and 3) interaural latency difference of waves V between the ears.

Results Sixteen males and 34 females, aged 25-66 years (mean 42.3±10.4 years) were include in the analysis. ILD-V at 80 dBnHL clicks showed significant correlation with increased age, and the equation predicted its value at 0.012 + [0.003 * age (years)]. The absolute latency of waves III and V at 90 dBnHL clicks (p-value = 0.010, 0.024) in the males was signifi cantly higher than the 80 dBnHL clicks (p-value = 0.014, 0.017) in the females. There was no significant correlation between 1) age and absolute latency at 80 or 90 dBnHL clicks; 2) age and interwave latency at 80 or 90 dBnHL clicks; and 3) age and ILD-V at 90 dBnHL clicks.

Conclusion ILD-V at 80 dBnHL clicks correlated with increased age. The absolute latency of waves III and V in the males was signifi cantly higher than in the females at both 80 and 90 dBnHL clicks. Clinicians need to be cautious when interpreting ABR results in the elderly with increased ILD-V value at 80 dBnHL clicks, or in males with delayed absolute latency of waves III and V at 80 and 90 dBnHL clicks.