Abstract:
Objectives: Auditory Brain Stem Response (ABR) is a result of eight nerve and brain stem nuclei stimulation. Several factors may affect the latencies, interpeak latencies and amplitudes in ABR especially sex and age. In this study, age and sex influence on ABR were studied. Methods: This study was performed on 120 cases (60 males and 60 females) at Akhavan rehabilitation center of university of welfare and rehabilitation sciences, Tehran, Iran. Cases were divided in three age groups: 18-30, 31-50 and 51-70 years old. Each age group consists of 20 males and 20 females. Age and sex influences on absolute latency of wave I and V, and IPL of I-V were examined. Results: Independent t test showed that females have significantly shorter latency of wave I, V, and IPL I-V latency (P-value < 0.001) than males. Two way ANOVA showed that latency of wave I, V and IPL I-V in 51-70 years old group was significantly higher than 18-30 and 31-50 years old groups (P-value < 0.001) Disscussion: According to the results of present study and similar studies, in clinical practice, different norms for older adults and both genders should be established.
Machine summary:
Iranian Rehabilitation Journal, Vol. 10, No. 16, October 2012 Original Article Age and Gender Effects on Auditory Brain Stem Response (ABR) Yones Lotfi, MD.
In diagnostic audiology, inter- peak latency interval (IPL) or inter-wave interval (IWI) of main ABR components especially I-V are very important because IPL I-V reflect the central conduction time (CCT) or brain stem conduction time (BCT).
The Aim of this research was to determining age and sex influences on absolute latency of wave I and V, and IPL of I-V in four age groups from 18 to 70 years old.
10 Iranian Rehabilitation Journal, Vol. 10, No. 16, October 2012 Charts (1), (2) and (3) show mean latency of wave I, V and I-V IPL for different gender and age groups.
This analysis showed that females have significantly shorter wave I latency (male mean value=1.
Discussion The results indicate that there is a significant difference between males and females in absolute latencies and IPLs of ABR, irrespective of age.
Furthermore, this study shows that absolute latencies and IPLs of ABR increase with aging especially in the 51-70 year-old interval.
Head size and consequently the length of the auditory neural pathway is different between the sexes and can lead to ABR waves latency and amplitude discrepancies.
Differences in brain stem response latency with age and sex.
Age and sex differences in latencies of waves I, III, and V in auditory brain stem response of normal hearing subjects.
Auditory brain stem responses (ABR) in the aged.