ABSTRACT
The central auditory system consists of auditory regions within the brainstem and midbrain, the thalamus and the cerebral cortex, specifically Heschl's gyrus on the superior gyrus of the temporal lobe. Auditory evoked responses are electrophysiologic recordings of responses from within the auditory system that are activated by sounds. The auditory brainstem response or auditory brainstem response (ABR) is the most clinically applied auditory evoked response. The ABR is generated with very brief clicking sounds or tones and recorded with surface electrodes placed on the forehead and on the external ears. Analysis of the ABR waveform for high intensity stimuli provides information on cochlear and retrocochlear auditory function. Central Auditory Processing Deficit (CAPD) assessment is carried out with a battery of behavioural tests that have proven sensitivity to central auditory dysfunction. CAPD findings for children are analysed in comparison to age-corrected normative data.
