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Frequency-Following Responses in Sensorineural Hearing Loss: A Systematic Review

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Abstract

Purpose

This systematic review aims to assess the impact of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) on various frequency-following response (FFR) parameters.

Methods

Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic review was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases up to January 2023. Studies evaluating FFRs in patients with SNHL and normal hearing controls were included.

Results

Sixteen case–control studies were included, revealing variability in acquisition parameters. In the time domain, patients with SNHL exhibited prolonged latencies. The specific waves that were prolonged differed across studies. There was no consensus regarding wave amplitude in the time domain. In the frequency domain, focusing on studies that elicited FFRs with stimuli of 170 ms or longer, participants with SNHL displayed a significantly smaller fundamental frequency (F0). Results regarding changes in the temporal fine structure (TFS) were inconsistent.

Conclusion

Patients with SNHL may require more time for processing (speech) stimuli, reflected in prolonged latencies. However, the exact timing of this delay remains unclear. Additionally, when presenting longer stimuli (≥ 170 ms), patients with SNHL show difficulties tracking the F0 of (speech) stimuli. No definite conclusions could be drawn on changes in wave amplitude in the time domain and the TFS in the frequency domain. Patient characteristics, acquisition parameters, and FFR outcome parameters differed greatly across studies. Future studies should be performed in larger and carefully matched subject groups, using longer stimuli presented at the same intensity in dB HL for both groups, or at a carefully determined maximum comfortable loudness level.

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Data Availability

Data sharing does not apply to this article as no new data were created or analyzed in this study. The list of studies included in this scoping review that support the findings of this review are openly available in the supplementary files and reference list.

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Funding

We would like to acknowledge that this research was partially conducted and made possible through a research stay at the University of Barcelona, supported by a grant for a short research stay provided by the FWO (Fonds voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek—Research Foundation Flanders), grant number K208323N. Carles Escera was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation the project PID2021-122255NB-100 supported by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/FEDER, UE; the María de Maeztu Center of Excellence CEX2021-001159-M (supported by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033); the 2021SGR-00356 Consolidated Research Group of the Catalan Government, and the ICREA Acadèmia Distinguished Professorship award.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Antwerp University Hospital (UZA), Drie Eikenstraat 655, 2650, Edegem, Belgium

    Laura Jacxsens, Lana Biot, Annick Gilles, Emilie Cardon, Vincent Van Rompaey & Marc J. W. Lammers

  2. Resonant Labs Antwerp, Department of Translational Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium

    Laura Jacxsens, Lana Biot, Annick Gilles, Emilie Cardon, Vincent Van Rompaey & Marc J. W. Lammers

  3. Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium

    Laura Jacxsens & Willem De Hertogh

  4. Neuroscience Research Group, Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Brainlab - Cognitive, University of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

    Carles Escera

  5. Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

    Carles Escera

  6. Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Santa Rosa 39-57, 08950, Esplugues de Llobregat, Catalonia, Spain

    Carles Escera

  7. Department of Education, Health and Social Work, University College Ghent, Ghent, Belgium

    Annick Gilles

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  1. Laura Jacxsens
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  2. Lana Biot
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  3. Carles Escera
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Contributions

Laura Jacxsens: conceptualization, methodology, formal analysis, writing—original draft, writing—review and editing, visualization. Lana Biot: data curation, formal analysis, writing—review and editing. Carles Escera: conceptualization, supervision, writing—review and editing. Annick Gilles: supervision, writing—review and editing. Emilie Cardon: conceptualization, writing—review and editing. Vincent Van Rompaey: conceptualization, supervision, writing—review and editing. Willem De Hertogh: conceptualization, supervision, writing—review and editing. Marc Lammers: conceptualization, methodology, supervision, writing—review and editing.

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Correspondence to Laura Jacxsens.

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Jacxsens, L., Biot, L., Escera, C. et al. Frequency-Following Responses in Sensorineural Hearing Loss: A Systematic Review. JARO 25, 131–147 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10162-024-00932-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10162-024-00932-7

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