A Device for Measuring Auditory Brainstem Responses to Audio

Standard ABR devices use clicks and tone bursts to assess subjects’ hearing in an objective way. A new device was developed that extends the functionality of a standard ABR audiometer by collecting and analyzing auditory brainstem responses (ABR). The developed accessory allows for the use of complex sounds (e.g., speech or music excerpts) as stimuli. Therefore, it is possible to find out how efficiently different types of sounds are processed in the hearing system including brain. The paper contains technical details related to the design of the device, including its hardware and software parts. The test results that have been carried out to verify the operation of the device are also described.