Air-And Bone-Conduction Auditory Brainstem Response in Children with Congenital External Auditory Canal Atresia

Objective: This study aimed to determine the clinical value of air- and bone-conduction auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) in children with congenital external auditory canal atresia (EACA). Methods: Air- and bone-conduction click-evoked ABRs in 38 children having congenital EACA were compared with 34 children having normal hearing. Results: ABR threshold for air and bone conduction were 66.53 ± 7.12 and 12.55 ± 6.96 dBnHL, respectively, in children with congenital EACA, as well as 25.32 ± 2.66 and 10.71 ± 4.51 dBnHL, respectively, in children with normal hearing. The two groups showed statistical difference in air-conduction ABR thresholds. Meanwhile, air–bone ABR threshold gap was greater in children with EACA than in children with normal hearing, and bone-conduction ABR wave latencies did not statistically differ between the two groups