Abstract:
Cortical auditory evoked potentials have the potential to be a tool for the assessment of auditory functions, providing information on the functionality and integrity of central auditory structures. Among its possible uses are: hearing threshold estimation on adults that are more accurate compared to other electrophysiological techniques; a tool for assessment and monitoring of auditory training; evaluation of amplification (especially using complex stimuli such as speech) related to the detection of an amplified sound at the level of the auditory cortex; and monitoring plasticity via the changes produced by an auditory stimulation. However there are still some limitations to be resolved before incorporating cortical auditory evoked potentials in to the battery of audiological tests used in clinics. Factors related to the subject and the technique and assessment conditions (e.g. different types of hearing aids), may vary these responses and hinder its reliability and use.