Brainstem auditory evoked response in the diagnosis of inner ear injury in the horse.
Abstract: Brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER) testing was done to evaluate inner ear/VIIIth cranial nerve (CN8) function in the horse. The BAER test consisted of stimulating the auditory system with clicks and recording far-field responses of the brainstem auditory components via cutaneous electrodes and a signal averaging system. The normal response was shown to be a series of waves occurring within the first 10 msec after the stimulus click. Functional loss of the auditory receptor organ (cochlea) or CN8 results in loss of the entire response on the side of the injury. Because of the anatomic relationships of the peripheral auditory and vestibular systems, trauma to one will injure the other. Therefore, auditory testing (BAER tests) may be used to advantage in the diagnosis of peripheral vestibular disease. The BAER test was used in a horse that had signs suggestive of vestibular dysfunction or a brain lesion. The test helped to demonstrate a unilateral inner ear/CN8 lesion and to discount the probability of a more central lesion.
Publication Date: 1981-02-01 PubMed ID: 6971862
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Summary
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The study investigates the use of Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response (BAER) tests in diagnosing inner ear injuries in horses. The research concludes that the test, which measures the response to auditory stimulus, can effectively detect potential peripheral vestibular disease, a condition that impacts balance and spatial orientation.
Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response (BAER) Testing
- The study used Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response (BAER) testing, a non-invasive diagnostic tool, to assess the function of the inner ear and the VIIIth cranial nerve (CN8) in horses.
- The BAER test involved stimulating the auditory system with clicks and recording the elicited far-field responses from the brainstem auditory components. This was done using cutaneous electrodes and a signal averaging system.
- The test records several waves that occur within the first 10 milliseconds after the stimulus click, which was deemed as a normal response to the auditory cue.
Consequences of Function Loss
- Functional loss of the cochlea (auditory receptor organ) or CN8 was found to result in losses of the entire response on the side of the injury. This key finding allows for the potential identification of unilateral injuries.
- The research findings underscored the close anatomical relationship between the peripheral auditory and vestibular systems. It was found that a trauma impacting one also affected the other.
Application of BAER Tests in Diagnosing Peripheral Vestibular Disease
- The research emphasized the application of BAER tests in diagnosing peripheral vestibular disease. This disease is characterized by issues with balance and spatial orientation, devastating for horses—a species reliant on mobility for survival.
- BAER testing was demonstrated in a practical case, where it was used on a horse showing signs of potential vestibular dysfunction or brain lesion. The test successfully identified a unilateral inner ear/CN8 injury, thereby ruling out the likelihood of a central lesion.
Cite This Article
APA
Marshall AE, Byars TD, Whitlock RH, George LW.
(1981).
Brainstem auditory evoked response in the diagnosis of inner ear injury in the horse.
J Am Vet Med Assoc, 178(3), 282-286.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Audiometry / veterinary
- Audiometry, Evoked Response / veterinary
- Brain Stem / physiopathology
- Female
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / physiopathology
- Horses / physiology
- Labyrinth Diseases / diagnosis
- Labyrinth Diseases / physiopathology
- Labyrinth Diseases / veterinary
- Vestibule, Labyrinth / physiopathology
- Vestibulocochlear Nerve / physiopathology
Citations
This article has been cited 6 times.- Aleman M, Spriet M, Williams DC, Nieto JE. Neurologic Deficits Including Auditory Loss and Recovery of Function in Horses with Temporohyoid Osteoarthropathy. J Vet Intern Med 2016 Jan-Feb;30(1):282-8.
- Aleman M, Holliday TA, Nieto JE, Williams DC. Brainstem auditory evoked responses in an equine patient population: part I--adult horses. J Vet Intern Med 2014 Jul-Aug;28(4):1310-7.
- Harland MM, Stewart AJ, Marshall AE, Belknap EB. Diagnosis of deafness in a horse by brainstem auditory evoked potential. Can Vet J 2006 Feb;47(2):151-4.
- Myers LJ, Redding RW, Wilson S. Reference values of the brainstem auditory evoked response of methoxyflurane anesthetized and unanesthetized dogs. Vet Res Commun 1985 Sep;9(4):289-94.
- Myers LJ, Redding RW, Wilson S. Abnormalities of the brainstem auditory response of the dog associated with equilibrium deficit and seizure. Vet Res Commun 1986 Jan;10(1):73-8.
- Knowles KE, Cash WC, Blauch BS. Auditory-evoked responses of dogs with different hearing abilities. Can J Vet Res 1988 Jul;52(3):394-7.
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