Method for aligning derived-band ABR responses based on integration of detrended derived-band ABRs
View Patent ↗In a diagnostic system wherein a patient's auditory brainstem response (ABR) to each of a plurality of auditory stimuli is recorded and wherein a plurality of derived-band ABRs representing cochlear responses in a plurality of respective frequency bands are constructed, the derived-band ABRs are temporarily aligned based on observable peaks in integrated, detrended derived-band waveforms.
1. A diagnostic method for detecting a hearing anomaly wherein a patient's auditory brainstem response (ABR) to each of a plurality of auditory stimuli is recorded and wherein a plurality of derived-band ABRs representing cochlear responses in a plurality of respective frequency bands are constructed, the method comprising:
(a) temporally aligning the derived-band ABRs by:
(i) fitting each of the derived-band ABRs to a respective linear equation;
(ii) subtracting the linear equation from the respective derived-band ABR to obtain a detrended derived-band ABR;
(iii) calculating an integral function for each of the detrended derived-band ABRs;
(iv) identifying a peak in each of the integral functions;
(v) calculating a respective peak displacement value for each of the integral functions;
(vi) shifting each of the detrended derived-band ABRs by the respective displacement value;
(b) summing the shifted detrended derived-band ABRs and comparing the sum to a threshold value to detect a hearing anomaly.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the respective linear equation is of the form:
y=K 0 +K 1 *x
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the integral function comprises a rectangular integration.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the integral function is of the form:
Integderivedband
[
p
]
=
∑
i
=
0
p
derivedband
[
i
]
•
Δ
x
.
5. A computer-readable storage medium containing a set of instructions for causing a general purpose computer to diagnose presence of a hearing anomaly, the set of instructions comprising:
instructions for fitting each of a plurality of derived-band auditory brain stem responses (ABRs) to a respective linear equation;
instructions for subtracting the linear equation from the respective derived-band ABR to obtain a detrended derived-band ABR;
instructions for calculating an integral function for each of the detrended derived-band ABRs;
instructions for identifying a peak in each of the integral functions;
instructions for calculating a respective peak displacement value for each of the integral functions;
instructions for shifting each of the detrended derived-band ABRs by the respective displacement value;
instructions for summing the shifted detrended derived-band ABRs and comparing the sum to a threshold value;
instructions for indicating a positive diagnosis of a hearing anomaly if the sum of the shifted detrended derived-band ABRs is below the threshold value.
6. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 5 wherein the respective linear equation is of the form:
y=K 0 +K 1 *x
7. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 5 wherein the integral function comprises a rectangular integration.
8. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 5 wherein the integral function is of the form:
Integderivedband
[
p
]
=
∑
i
=
0
p
derivedband
[
i
]
•
Δ
x
.