2023 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 5-7, 2023 • Cincinnati, OH
DUKE ENERGY CONVENTION CENTER
Examining Auditory Brainstem Response Waveforms and Autism Spectrum Disorder in Children: A Retrospective Chart Review
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects communication and behavior (NIMH, n.d.). Not only do individuals with ASD typically show abnormal cortex activation when processing acoustic stimuli (Claesdotter-Knutsson et al., 2019), but individuals with ASD may also have a smaller brainstem volume due to reduced grey matter and reduced superior olivary neurons (Talge et al., 2018). While behavioral signs of ASD can be observed around 18-24 months of age, children with ASD are typically not diagnosed until 3-4 years of age (Boroujeni et al. 2017; Miron et al., 2021). Therefore, the need for a more timely diagnosis is necessary, and research has speculated that this can be attained via auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing (Talge et al. 2018). ABR measurements assess the subcortical electrical activity in the auditory pathways after presentation of a sound stimulus (Claesdotter-Knutsson et al., 2019). ABRs are therefore useful for determining hearing thresholds for difficult-to-test populations. Previous research has suggested that individuals with ASD may have alterations such as lower amplitudes or delayed absolute & interpeak latencies in both click and neurodiagnostic ABRs (Rosenhall et al. 2003; Li et al., 2020). However, there is still much heterogeneity concerning the relationship between the use of ABR and the diagnosis of ASD (Talge et al. 2018). This study will perform a detailed chart review of patients seen for a neurologic ABR at Montefiore Medical Center’s records from 2018 through September 2021. By investigating the potential of the neurodiagnostic ABR as a clinical tool to diagnose young children with ASD, this may provide insights the profession can use to improve patient care. Specifically, this finding could aid in the diagnosis of young children with ASD and in turn, close the gap in later age diagnosis.
- The participant will be able to state why an ABR is a useful objective diagnostic tool
- The participant will be able to identify characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD
- The participant will be able to state at least one pattern that was identified in ABR results across many children with ASD
Poster:
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Presenter: April Simmons
April Simmons is in her final year of the Au.D. program at Towson University where she successfully completed and defended her doctoral thesis titled “An Examination of Demographics, Cultural Competency, and Implicit Bias Amongst Audiologists.” She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology from Loyola University Maryland. Her clinical interests include vestibular and diagnostic assessments, pediatrics, and hearing aids. April is currently completing her externship at Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center, where she is a LEND trainee.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exist.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.
Rebecca Weiss is in her final year of the Au.D. program at the CUNY Graduate Center where she is completing a capstone on the “Behaviors and Attitudes towards Infant Hearing Protection at Orthodox Jewish Weddings.” Ms. Weiss earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Queens College where she was awarded Summa Cum Laude and the Queens College Women’s Club Award. Her clinical interests include pediatrics, working with individuals with developmental disabilities or special needs, and hearing aids. She is currently completing her externship at Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center, where she is a LEND trainee.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exist.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.
Sofia Barba-Reyes is in her final year of the Au.D. program at Montclair State University where she completed and defended her research capstone on “Objective Measures to Diagnose Noise-Induced Hidden Hearing Loss.” Ms. Barba-Reyes will present her findings of her research at the 2023 NJSHA Annual Conference in April 2023. Ms. Barba-Reyes earned a Bachelor of Science with Program Honors in Communication Disorder Sciences from Mercy College. Ms. Barba-Reyes clinical interests include cochlear implants, and osseointegrated devices, and electrophysiological testing. She is currently completing her externship at Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center, where she is a LEND trainee.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exist.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exist.