What is the expected outcome of BAEPs for conductive hearing loss?

When assessing the outcomes of Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials (BAEPs) in cases of conductive hearing loss, it is important to understand the physiological effects of this type of hearing impairment on auditory pathways. Conductive hearing loss occurs when there is an obstruction or damage in the outer or middle ear that prevents sound from being transmitted effectively to the inner ear and auditory nerve.

In cases of conductive hearing loss, the auditory signals still reach the brainstem, but the efficiency of sound transmission is compromised. Consequently, while the interpeak latencies (IPLs) can show a normal or expected range, the absolute latencies (ALs) may be prolonged due to the required amplification or additional time needed to process the auditory signals through the affected pathways.

The correct outcome reflects that the IPLs remain within normal limits because the central auditory pathways are intact, but the ALs may be increased due to the impacts of the conductive loss on sound transduction. This presents a characteristic pattern observed in BAEPs for this type of hearing impairment, where the latency characteristics demonstrate the underlying impact of the conductive loss while keeping the interpeak intervals stable.

Understanding these changes in latencies is essential for accurately diagnosing the nature of hearing loss and differentiating it from sensor