Auditory nerve phase-locked response recorded from normal hearing adults using electrocochleography

The auditory nerve overlapped waveform response (ANOW), a new measure that can be recorded non-invasively from humans, holds promise for providing more accurate assessment of low frequency hearing thresholds than currently used objective measures. This research aims to investigate the robustness and the nature of the ANOW response in humans. Repeated within-session recordings of the ANOW response using low-frequency Tone Bursts (TBs) were obtained at multiple stimulus levels. ANOW’s absolute amplitude and phase locking value (PLV) measures were analysed to obtain normative data and to test the reliability of the ANOW response. Thirteen normal hearing adults within the age range of 25 to 40 years. ANOW response was obtained to both 250 Hz and 500 Hz TBs and was traced down to 30–40 dB nHL. ANOW response showed significantly higher amplitude and stronger phase locking using 250 Hz TB compared to 500 Hz TB. High degree of test retest reliability of the ANOW response was found using 250 Hz TB at presentation levels higher than 40 dB nHL. ANOW response is recordable noninvasively using low-frequency TBs and shows higher robustness as the stimulus frequency decreases.

听神经叠加波形反应（auditory nerve overlapped waveform response，ANOW）是一种可从人体无创记录的新型检测手段，相较于当前临床常用的客观听力检测方法，其有望实现对低频听阈的更精准评估。本研究旨在探究人体ANOW反应的稳健性与内在特性。研究采用低频突发短纯音（Tone Bursts，TBs）在多刺激强度下开展了单次会话内的多次重复记录。通过分析ANOW的绝对振幅与相位锁定值（phase locking value，PLV）指标，获取其常模数据并检验ANOW反应的可靠性。本研究共招募13名年龄介于25至40岁的正常听力成年人作为受试对象。针对250 Hz与500 Hz的突发短纯音均可记录到ANOW反应，其可检测的最低刺激强度可达30~40 dB nHL（正常听力级）。相较于500 Hz突发短纯音，采用250 Hz突发短纯音记录的ANOW反应具有显著更高的振幅与更强的相位锁定特性。当刺激强度高于40 dB nHL时，采用250 Hz突发短纯音记录的ANOW反应表现出极高的重测信度。ANOW反应可通过低频突发短纯音无创记录，且随着刺激频率降低，其稳健性显著提升。