Summary
Auditory brainstem response (ABR) serves as an objective indication of auditory perception at given sound level and is nowadays widely used in hearing function assessment. Despite efforts for automation over decades, hearing threshold determination by machine algorithm remains unreliable and thereby still rely on visual identification by trained personnel. Here, we described a procedure for automatic threshold determination that can be used in both animal and human ABR tests. The method terminates level averaging of ABR recordings upon detection of time-locked waveform through cross-correlation analysis. The threshold level was then indicated by a dramatic increase in the sweep numbers required to produce “qualified” level averaging. A good match was obtained between the algorithm outcome and the human readouts. Moreover, the method varies the level averaging based on the cross-correlation, thereby adapting to the signal-to-noise ratio of single sweep recordings. These features empower a robust and fully automated ABR test.
Competing Interest Statement
The authors have declared no competing interest.
Clinical Trial
SH9H-2019-T79-1
Funding Statement
This study was supported by Shanghai Huangpu District Industry Support Fund (XK2019011 to Y.H.), the National Science Foundation of China (81770995 to L.S., 81700903 to B.L. and 81800901 to Y.H.) and the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine on Ear and Nose diseases (14DZ2260300).
Author Declarations
All relevant ethical guidelines have been followed and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained.
Yes
All necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived.
Yes
Any clinical trials involved have been registered with an ICMJE-approved registry such as ClinicalTrials.gov and the trial ID is included in the manuscript.
Not Applicable
I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines and uploaded the relevant Equator, ICMJE or other checklist(s) as supplementary files, if applicable.
Yes
Footnotes
↵6 Lead Contact
Data Availability
All data referred to in the manuscript are available.