Auditory Steady-State Response
Also written as: ASSR — Auditory Steady-State Response
An objective, electrophysiological measure of hearing sensitivity that uses continuous modulated tones to elicit a frequency-specific response from the auditory system, recordable at scalp electrodes.
Full Definition
The auditory steady-state response (ASSR) is an evoked potential generated by the auditory system in response to amplitude- and/or frequency-modulated carrier tones. Unlike the auditory brainstem response, which uses transient clicks, ASSR allows frequency-specific threshold estimation across the audiometric range, making it particularly valuable for fitting hearing aids in infants and difficult-to-test populations. Results are analyzed statistically to determine whether a response is present, and estimated thresholds are converted to estimated behavioral thresholds using correction factors. Editors should be alert to the distinction between ASSR thresholds and actual behavioral thresholds; clinical reports must not conflate the two. The acronym ASSR is standard and should be defined on first use in any document.
Usage
Usage note: Always qualify ASSR thresholds as 'estimated' in clinical documents to prevent confusion with behavioral audiometric results.
In Context
- "ASSR testing confirmed profound hearing loss bilaterally, supporting early cochlear implant candidacy assessment." — Pediatric audiology diagnostic report
- "The author incorrectly labeled ASSR results as 'behavioral thresholds'; this should be corrected to 'estimated thresholds'." — Manuscript peer-review note