Gender Disparities in Speech-evoked Auditory Brainstem Response in Healthy Adults: Any Relation to Head Size?

• Published in: Annals of otology, rhinology & laryngology rhinology & laryngology, 2017-04, Vol.126 (4), p.290-295
• Main Authors: Jalaei, Bahram, Zakaria, Mohd Normani, Mohd Azmi, Mohd Hafiz Afifi, Nik Othman, Nik Adilah, Sidek, Dinsuhaimi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0003-4894; 1943-572X
• DOI: 10.1177/0003489417690169

Objectives: Gender disparities in speech-evoked auditory brainstem response (speech-ABR) outcomes have been reported, but the literature is limited. The present study was performed to further verify this issue and determine the influence of head size on speech-ABR results between genders. Methods: Twenty-nine healthy Malaysian subjects (14 males and 15 females) aged 19 to 30 years participated in this study. After measuring the head circumference, speech-ABR was recorded by using synthesized syllable /da/ from the right ear of each participant. Speech-ABR peaks amplitudes, peaks latencies, and composite onset measures were computed and analyzed. Results: Significant gender disparities were noted in the transient component but not in the sustained component of speech-ABR. Statistically higher V/A amplitudes and less steeper V/A slopes were found in females. These gender differences were partially affected after controlling for the head size. Conclusions: Head size is not the main contributing factor for gender disparities in speech-ABR outcomes. Gender-specific normative data can be useful when recording speech-ABR for clinical purposes.