The auditory response in which the eyes were opened slowly when the sound stimuli were presented to the subjects soon after their eyes were closed when they are going to fall into sleep was called as the auditory eye opening responses at falling into asleep (AER).
Fifty-five infants with normal hearing, ranging from five days to two years of age, were tested by AER. Sixteen autistic, mental retarded, and hearing impaired infants, aged one to three years, were examined in this study.
The results obtained were as-follows:
1) In autistic and mental retarded infants, who did not respond to conventional audiometric techniques, AER were observed in all.
2) Infants with moderate hearing impairment did not show AER.
3) AER was evoked by warble tone (1kHz, 3kHz 50dB (A)) or click sound produced by the tongue (50-60dB (A)) in more than 90% of the subjects with normal hearing.
4) Most of the newborn infants failed to receive the test, because they were always closing their eyes.
5) AER was characteristically evoked by weak sound stimuli and the occurance of the response was very frequent.
6) AER was thought to be useful for children who hardly respond to the conventional audiometry.
7) In conclusion, it was suggested that AER is useful as one of the audiometric batteries or as a screening test for infants if performed properly in proper time.