Several months ago I sent copies of Maira's ABR's and Behavioral Testing results. Maura mentioned in a letter dated September 30, 3004 that there was a discrepancy between the ABR results and her behavioral testing. Can you please explain what the discrepancies are and what they mean? In addition, Maira's speech development and behavior to sound has changed. I therefore scheduled an appointment to have her tested. The results seem to show her hearing has changed for the worse. In my pursuits to see where she stands regarding her hearing, I would like to have her retested via the ABR or from what I have heard there is a far more accurate and better method called ASSR. Do you know more abouth the ASSR and what it is, does, means, stands for, etc.? Please help I am gravely concerned Maira's hearing is fading and I want to know why and what this all means. What do I do? Do I start to introduce sign language? Please help!

Dear Mrs. Scatta
Thank you for your email. Maura told me that you might write, and she gave me a copy of Maira's audiologic tests and reports. She mentioned to you that there is a discrepancy between the ABR testing and behavioral test results, and I'm glad you asked about them as they are important.
ABR testing from last January and last March indicated a mild to moderate hearing loss in both ears across frequencies of 500 to 4000 Hz. In other words, Maira had a mild hearing loss in the bass tones (500 Hz) and a moderate loss in the high pitched tones (2000 and 4000 Hz).
Testing in a sound proof booth, done in May of this year, indicated unaided responses of 70 dB for 500 and 2000 Hz. This is a moderately-severe hearing loss --- quite different from the mild to moderate loss recorded by ABR. And the audiologist wrote that reliability was good and that Maira responded to speech at 60 dB, which confirms a moderately-severe hearing loss.
Behavioral testing was also done in a sound proof booth while Maira was wearing hearing aids, and those responses indicated that she benefitted at 500 and 2000 Hz by approximately 40 dB. Her hearing aids were certainly not set for a mild to moderate loss! They were giving her power for the loss she has.
So, naturally, Maura was a bit confused between the results of both of these tests.
Now you are finding a difference in your little one's responses to sounds, and wisely you want another test. ASSR is another form of ABR, but the sounds presented cover all frequencies simultaneously. The audiologist then determines Maira's responses at each frequency. This is a good test, and will give important information. Then the behavioral test should also be done in a sound proof booth to confirm these findings. The last test did not confirm ABR findings at all, and there should have been some repeat testing until the results were confirmed. This time, all tests must be compared. In fact, your audiologist might want to do OAE (Otoacoustic Emissions Testing) along with ASSR and Behaviroal. Then you will have a complete battery of tests to consider.
I know you will be writing to Maura with these results, but will you please tell me also? I'll be interested to see the tests and reports. And I will also be interested to know what changes are made in your daughter's hearing aids. Please keep in touch!
Sincerely,
Kathleen Sutherland