PATH News

Central Auditory Processing Disorders – Understanding, Assessment, and Clinical Application in children

Central auditory processing describes the brain’s ability to analyze and meaningfully interpret sound. When this system is disrupted, children may experience difficulties with listening, learning, and communication, even when their peripheral hearing is normal. Modern tools such as the BASD provide a detailed insight into these processing abilities and support accurate diagnosis and targeted therapy planning. Learn more about central auditory processing and the BASD test.

Tympanometry in newborns

Early and accurate diagnosis of hearing loss is one of the challenges that we seek to address with appropriate technological tools focused on the specific functioning of the ear in newborns. Tympanometry is one of the tests that helps us determine the condition of the middle ear and is essential in the diagnosis of conductive hearing loss. This document explains the reasons and clinical applications of 1000Hz tympanometry.

Cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (cVEMP)

cVEMP is a measure of the vestibulo-cervical reflex pathway through surface electrodes. To get the vestibular response are needed an acoustic stimulus plus a muscle contraction, in this case the sternocleidomastoid. In the clinical practice, this test is used for the differential diagnosis of superior canal dehiscence syndrome and endolymphatic hydrops.

Ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (oVEMP)

oVEMP testing is a noninvasive method used to assess utricular and vestibular function via muscle responses beneath the eyes. It is especially useful in diagnosing balance disorders such as Meniere’s disease, vestibular neuritis, and superior canal dehiscence. oVEMPs are safe for use in children, deaf patients, and even some blind individuals, offering reliable insights into vestibular health.

Auditory Steady State Response (ASSR)

ASSR is an objective, frequency-specific hearing assessment used especially for individuals who cannot provide reliable behavioral responses.ASSR uses statistical analysis to detect responses the stimulus, making it more automated and less subjective.The SENTIERO ADVANCE by PATH MEDICAL offers flexible ASSR screening and diagnostic options.

Bone-Conduction Auditory Brainstem Response

Bone-Conduction Auditory Brainstem Response (BC ABR) can be used to determine the hearing loss type in infants when air-conduction thresholds are elevated. Research shows infants have lower bone-conduction ABR thresholds than adults, with differences due to skull physiology and signal transmission.For accurate results, proper bone vibrator placement, optimal coupling force, and minimizing stimulus artifacts are essential.

Tone Burst ABR

Tone Burst ABRs help diagnose auditory disorders in infants by estimating hearing thresholds at key frequencies (500–4000 Hz).Click or chirp stimuli provide an initial assessment, while tone bursts offer precise data for early intervention and hearing aid fitting.Efficient testing prioritizes frequencies based on suspected hearing loss, ensuring accurate results in time-sensitive settings.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV)

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a little-known virus but is a major cause of non-syndromic hearing loss in newborns.This virus and other causes of hearing loss point to the importance of screening newborns for hearing loss.Read more to learn more about this virus that can be found around the world.

Electrical Electrophysiologic Evaluation

Cochlear implants convert sound into electrical signals to stimulate the auditory nerve.Proper programming involves determining thresholds for signal detection and upper comfort limits.Behavioral methods can only be used for older children and adults, while objective methods like electrically evoked auditory brainstem response (eABR) and electrically evoked stapedial reflex threshold (ESRT) are applied for infants, or complex cases.

Electrophysiologic assessment using the Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR)

The ABR is a key tool for estimating auditory thresholds in infants under six months and for individuals unable to perform behavioral hearing tests.It utilizes rapid-onset stimuli like clicks or chirps to assess the integrity of the auditory pathway, providing a basis for threshold investigation.In addition to clicks or chirps, more frequency-specific information is needed to estimate thresholds across the frequency range.In addition, both air and bone conduction testing are necessary.This information is required to begin habilitation when an impairment exists.Tips on conducting these tests and suggestions for test sequence are discussed.

Electrocochleography (ECochG)

Electrocochleography (ECochG) is the earliest Auditory evoked potential with a latency of 0-5 milliseconds and consists of the Cochlear Microphonic (CM), Summating Potential (SP), and Action Potential (AP).Electrode placement impacts the amplitude of the recorded potentials, with transtympanic recordings offering the largest but most invasive responses.

Auditory Neuropathy (AN)/Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder (ANSD)

Auditory Neuropathy is a condition where there is normal outer hair cells function, but abnormal neural transmission beyond the cochlea.It affects approximately 1-10% of all those with hearing loss and can be seen in all ages.It affects approximately 1-10% of all those with hearing loss and can be seen in all ages.

Eustachian Tube Function and Testing

Eustachian Tube Function (ETF)is an objective measure of the health of the Eustachian Tube (ET).PATH MEDICAL makes it easy and offers testing for intact tympanic membranes, perforated tympanic membranes or when there is a suspicion of a patulous ET.

Multi-Frequency Technology for Acoustic Reflexes by PATH MEDICAL GmbH

Tympanometry is a key method for assessing middle ear status- measuring the ease of energy flow into the middle ear as air pressure changes.Traditionally using a 226 Hz tone, PATH MEDICAL devices now offer multi-frequency tympanometry with simultaneous presentation of probe tones at frequencies of 226, 678, 800, and 1000 Hz.The acoustic reflex, involving the stapedius and tensor tympani muscles, stiffens the middle ear in response to sound, which can be measured similarly to tympanometry.By using multiple frequencies, PATH MEDICAL's devices aim to improve the detection robustness of acoustic reflexes against artifacts.

FMDPOAEs® - Frequency Modulated Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions

Unique Feature in the PATH MEDICAL devices – FMDPAOEFrequency Modulated Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emission (FMDPOAE) testing is a unique feature in the PATH MEDICAL devices.It offers advantages that other devices do not.The FMDPOAE enhances the ability to obtain a robust response, thus helping to increase speed and efficiency during DPOAE testing.

Tinnitus-Matcher - new feature

Introducing Tinnitus Matcher by PATH MEDICAL GmbH - a comprehensive feature designed to assist in the precise identification and management of tinnitus.Our innovative Tinnitus Matcher allows for detailed pitch and loudness matching with unparalleled precision, down to 0.1 Hz and 1 dB HL respectively.With its advanced capabilities and compatibility with various air conduction transducers, Tinnitus Matcher provides invaluable insights into tinnitus perception and aids in formulating effective management plans, ultimately improving patient outcomes.

Pressurized Otoacoustic Emission Testing

The SENTIERO DESKTOP//DIAGNOSTIC from PATH MEDICAL GmbH - is a cutting-edge device that combines tympanometry and OAE (Otoacoustic Emission) testing in one, streamlining the assessment process. By integrating these functionalities, the device enables clinicians to evaluate the middle ear condition and perform OAE testing under pressurized conditions, ensuring optimal detection of emissions.This innovative solution maximizes the accuracy of OAE responses, helping to mitigate false positives for Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SNHL) and enhancing diagnostic precision.