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Gender and modulation frequency effects on auditory steady state response (ASSR) thresholds

  • Otology
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Abstract

For estimating behavioral hearing thresholds, auditory steady state response (ASSR) can be reliably evoked by stimuli at low and high modulation frequencies (MFs). In this regard, little is known regarding ASSR thresholds evoked by stimuli at different MFs in female and male participants. In fact, recent data suggest that 40-Hz ASSR is influenced by estrogen level in females. Hence, the aim of the present study was to determine the effect of gender and MF on ASSR thresholds in young adults. Twenty-eight normally hearing participants (14 males and 14 females) were enrolled in this study. For each subject, ASSR thresholds were recorded with narrow-band chirps at 500, 1,000, 2,000, and 4,000 Hz carrier frequencies (CFs) and at 40 and 90 Hz MFs. Two-way mixed ANOVA (with gender and MF as the factors) revealed no significant interaction effect between factors at all CFs (p > 0.05). The gender effect was only significant at 500 Hz CF (p < 0.05). At 500 and 1,000 Hz CFs, mean ASSR thresholds were significantly lower at 40 Hz MF than at 90 Hz MF (p < 0.05). Interestingly, at 2,000 and 4,000 Hz CFs, mean ASSR thresholds were significantly lower at 90 Hz MF than at 40 Hz MF (p < 0.05). The lower ASSR thresholds in females might be due to hormonal influence. When recording ASSR thresholds at low MF, we suggest the use of gender-specific normative data so that more valid comparisons can be made, particularly at 500 Hz CF.

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Acknowledgments

We thank all subjects who participated voluntarily in this study. This study was funded by Research University (RU) Grant (1001/PPSK/812114), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest arose from the study. The authors are fully responsible for the content of the paper.

Ethical standard

All procedures performed in this study involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of Universiti Sains Malaysia and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Audiology Program, School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia

    Mohd Normani Zakaria & Bahram Jalaei

  2. Audiology Program, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, National University of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Nor Alaudin Abdul Wahab

Authors
  1. Mohd Normani Zakaria
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  2. Bahram Jalaei
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  3. Nor Alaudin Abdul Wahab
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Correspondence to Mohd Normani Zakaria.

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Zakaria, M.N., Jalaei, B. & Abdul Wahab, N.A. Gender and modulation frequency effects on auditory steady state response (ASSR) thresholds. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 273, 349–354 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-015-3555-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-015-3555-3

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