Quality of Auditory Brainstem Response Testing in Children
Author Information
Author(s): Hannaan S. Choudhry, Roman Povolotskiy, Shahin Damji, Ying Yu‐Lan M., Nicole Raia
Primary Institution: Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
Hypothesis
Most outside ABRs do not meet the standards set by professional societies, leading to changes in diagnosis and treatment after repeat ABR.
Conclusion
Incomplete ABR testing may result in misdiagnosis and delays in treatment, highlighting the need for improved screening protocols.
Supporting Evidence
- 80 patients met inclusion criteria for the study.
- 37 repeated ABRs resulted in a change of diagnosis.
- 23 cases had a change in ultimate management after repeat ABR.
Takeaway
This study shows that many children have incomplete hearing tests, which can lead to wrong diagnoses and delays in getting the help they need.
Methodology
Retrospective chart review of pediatric patients who underwent ABR testing from 2012 to 2019.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to geographic limitations and retrospective design.
Limitations
The study had a small sample size and was limited to one geographic area, which may affect generalizability.
Participant Demographics
62.5% of patients were between 0 to 12 months old; 87.5% were full-term.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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