Improving the prediction of outcome in severe acute closed head injury by using discriminant function analysis of normal auditory brainstem response latencies and amplitudes.

Object: The auditory brainstem response (ABR) is a useful addition to standard medical measures for predicting outcome in patients with severe acute closed head injury (ACHI). Limiting this success, however, is the poor predictive value of a so-called "normal" ABR. In this study the authors used discriminant function analysis (DFA) of ABR Wave I, III, and V latencies and amplitudes to improve the predictive accuracy of the normal ABR, both as a single measure and in combination with other standard medical measures.