Use of auditory brainstem responses for the early detection of ototoxicity from aminoglycosides or chemotherapeutic drugs.

Effective objective HF (high-frequency) testing methodology provides for the early detection of ototoxic hearing loss because it typically progresses from high to low frequencies. Such early detection is considered necessary to prevent hearing loss from progressing into the frequency range important for understanding speech. Objective tests must be reliable, sensitive to hearing change, and time efficient.

Comparison of ABR stimuli for the early detection of ototoxicity: conventional clicks compared with high frequency clicks and single frequency tonebursts.

Effective objective testing methodology is needed for early detection of the effects of ototoxicity on hearing in patients. The requirements for such testing include responses that are: 1) reliable across test sessions; 2) sensitive to ototoxic change ( > 8 kHz), and 3) recordable in a time-efficient manner. Auditory brainstem responses (ABR) appear well suited to this task however, conventional clicks stimulate primarily mid-frequencies (1-4 kHz) and high frequency tonebursts require too much time.