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Semin Hear 2013; 34(04): 257-269
DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1356638
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Uses and Limitations of Electrophysiology with Hearing Aids

Curtis J. Billings
1   National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research, Portland VA Medical Center
2   Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
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Publication History

Publication Date:
15 October 2013 (online)

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Abstract

There is currently a strong interest among both audiologists and hearing researchers to find a physiological measure that can be used as a marker of how amplified sounds are processed by the brain (i.e., hearing aid fitting) or how the brain changes with exposure to amplified sounds (i.e., hearing aid acclimatization). Currently, auditory evoked potentials are used, or proposed to be used, for both of these purposes to some degree. It is clear from the literature that some of these uses are potentially useful clinically and others are quite problematic. The current state of aided cortical auditory evoked potentials will be discussed relative to their application to hearing aid fitting/verification and in understanding hearing aid acclimatization. Future areas of promise as well as current gaps in the literature will be addressed.

Keywords

Auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) - event-related potentials (ERPs) - hearing aids - acclimatization
 

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