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J Am Acad Audiol 2021; 32(06): 379-385
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1730365
Research Article

Characteristic Deviations of Auditory Evoked Potentials in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Kamakshi V. Gopal
1   Department of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas
,
Erin C. Schafer
1   Department of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas
,
Rajesh Nandy
2   Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas
,
Ashley Brown
1   Department of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas
,
Joshua Caldwell
1   Department of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas
,
Bryce Phillips
1   Department of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas
,
Gabrielle Ballard
1   Department of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas
› Author Affiliations Funding This study was funded by a research grant from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
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Abstract

Background Neurological, structural, and behavioral abnormalities are widely reported in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD); yet there are no objective markers to date. We postulated that by using dominant and nondominant ear data, underlying differences in auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) between ASD and control groups can be recognized.

Purpose The primary purpose was to identify if significant differences exist in AEPs recorded from dominant and nondominant ear stimulation in (1) children with ASD and their matched controls, (2) adults with ASD and their matched controls, and (3) a combined child and adult ASD group and control group. The secondary purpose was to explore the association between the significant findings of this study with those obtained in our previous study that evaluated the effects of auditory training on AEPs in individuals with ASD.

Research Design Factorial analysis of variance with interaction was performed.

Study Sample Forty subjects with normal hearing between the ages of 9 and 25 years were included. Eleven children and 9 adults with ASD were age- and gender-matched with neurotypical peers.

Data Collection and Analysis Auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) and auditory late responses (ALRs) were recorded. Adult and child ASD subjects were compared with non-ASD adult and child control subjects, respectively. The combined child and adult ASD group was compared with the combined child and adult control group.

Results No significant differences in ABR latency or amplitude were observed between ASD and control groups. ALR N1 amplitude in the dominant ear was significantly smaller for the ASD adult group compared with their control group. Combined child and adult data showed significantly smaller amplitude for ALR N1 and longer ALR P2 latency in the dominant ear for the ASD group compared with the control group. In our earlier study, the top predictor of behavioral improvement following auditory training was ALR N1 amplitude in the dominant ear. Correspondingly, the ALR N1 amplitude in the dominant ear yielded group differences in the current study.

Conclusions ALR peak N1 amplitude is proposed as the most feasible AEP marker in the evaluation of ASD.

Keywords

autism spectrum disorder - neurotypical peers - auditory brainstem responses - auditory late potentials - AEP marker

Note

Portions of this manuscript have been presented at the American Academy of Audiology conference (2019).


Disclaimer

Any mention of a product, service, or procedure in the Journal of the American Academy of Audiology does not constitute an endorsement of the product, service, or procedure by the American Academy of Audiology.




Publication History

Received: 14 August 2020

Accepted: 27 February 2021

Article published online:
03 November 2021

© 2021. American Academy of Audiology. This article is published by Thieme.

Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.
333 Seventh Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10001, USA

 

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