Abstract
Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials (BAEPs) are increasingly used in longitudinal evaluation of brainstem function. The reliability of the neurophysiological parameters and definition of the normal test-retest variability are required for such investigations. In the present study we submitted 20 healthy volunteers (10 males and 10 females; mean age 35.1 years, range 24-49) to BAEPs in two sessions separated by seven days. The reliability of the parameters was estimated by means of intraclass correlation coefficient (R). All BAEP parameters showed excellent R values (above 0.75). In addition, the confidence interval lower limits of all R coefficients had good to excellent values. Finally we computed the upper normal limits of the test-retest variability of each parameter, with alpha = 0.01, using the within-subjects mean square. The confirmed good reliability of the analyzed parameters enables us to employ BAEPs as useful monitoring instruments in longitudinal studies.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 467-474 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Bollettino della Societa Italiana di Biologia Sperimentale |
Volume | 68 |
Issue number | 7 |
Publication status | Published - Jul 1992 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Medicine(all)