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Auditory brainstem response in obstructive sleep apnea
Author(s) -
Wetmore Stephen J.,
Henderson Catherine,
Doshier Nita W.,
Milligan Lynda Beth
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1288/00005537-198805000-00004
Subject(s) - obstructive sleep apnea , medicine , brainstem , pathological , auditory brainstem response , audiology , sleep (system call) , apnea , anesthesia , pathophysiology , latency (audio) , cardiology , hearing loss , computer science , electrical engineering , engineering , operating system
Auditory brainstem, response (ABR) has been used by several investigators to study the role of the brain stem in the pathophysiology of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). These studies have produced conflicting results. We studied 27 preoperative OSA patients and 17 controls using click stimuli presented at a slow (11.7/second) rate and at a fast (57.7/second) rate. ABR was repeated postoperatively in 18 patients. There were no statistically significant differences in the ABRs of preoperative OSA patients when compared with the control group. However, the preoperative recordings showed statistically significant prolonged latencies for wave III ( p < 0.01) and interpeak latency (IPL) I‐III ( p < 0.01) when compared to postoperative recordings. Rapid‐rate testing was not helpful. Although normal sleep does not cause ABR abnormalities, the pathological sleepiness seen in OSA patients may cause brainstem dysfunction manifested by prolonged ABR latencies. These abnormalities may resolve with treatment of OSA.