VIASYS Neurocare

GSI Application Note

Topic: Electrical Auditory Brainstem Responses

The Electrical Auditory Brainstem Response

(EABR) is a measurement of the ABR using an
electrical stimulus. The purpose of the test is to
determine if the auditory nerve responds as
expected to electrical stimulation. EABRs are
reportedly used presurgically to determine if a
cochlear implant should be attempted and post-
surgically to determine if the cochlear implant is
working properly. In clinical experience, however,
there is little correlation between pre-operative
measurements and post-operative fitting results.
Some cochlear implant sites use the dynamic
range of the EABR for fitting the cochlear implant
processor with non-cooperative patients.

The Test Setup

The stimulus to elicit the response comes from the
This example shows three EABRs as the intensity of
cochlear implant external stimulator. The cochlear
the cochlear implant software increases.
implant software is where the stimulus and level
are determined. The external stimulator sends a
Protocol in the GSI Audera - AEP
trigger to the GSI Audera to start acquiring data
External Trigger: Active (checked)
and initiates the stimulus. Because the EABR is
Transducer: N/A
symmetrical, the recordings are done with one
Stimulus: N/A
channel only. The electrode montage for EABR
Masking offset: N/A
testing includes an active electrode on the mastoid
Repetition Rate: 8.0 Hz
or earlobe of the contralateral ear to stimulation, a
Polarity: N/A
reference electrode on low forehead, and the
Filters: 1 – 3K Hz
ground electrode on the high forehead.
Time base = 0 to 15 msec
Noise rejection = 50 ±µsec
The Response
The EABR on the GSI Audera includes 1-2 msec
of pre-stimulus recording, the electrical artifact of
For more information on methodology and
the external stimulator, then the ABR. The latency,
interpretation please refer to:
amplitude and threshold can be measured.
Firszt, J., Wackym, P., Gaggl, W., Burg, L.,
Typically, EABRs will have earlier latencies than a
Reeder, R., (2003) “Electrically evoked auditory
typical ABR.
brainstem responses for lateral and medial
placement of the Clarion HiFocus electrode” Ear
Some cochlear implant sites use the highest
& Hearing 24(2):184-190.
amplitude of the response as a measure of the
Kileny, PR., Zwolan, TA., Zimmerman-Phillips, Sl
MCL for fitting the cochlear implant.
Telian, S., (1994), “Electrically evoked auditory
brain-stem response in pediatric patients with
cochlear implants” Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck
Surg, Oct 120(10):1083-1090.
Brown, C., Hughes, M., Lopez, S., Abbas, P.
(1999) “Relationship between EABR Thresholds
and Levels Used to Program the Clarion Speech
Processor” Ann Oto Rhinol Laryngol 108(4): Part
2, suppl 177
Hodges, AV., Ruth, R., Lambert, P., Balkany, T.
(1994) “Electric auditory brain-stem responses in
nucleus multichannel cochlear implant users”,
Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg Oct 120(10)