Journal of Forensic Medicine ›› 2023, Vol. 39 ›› Issue (4): 360-366.DOI: 10.12116/j.issn.1004-5619.2023.230406

Special Issue: 法医临床鉴定理论与技术专题

• Theory and Technique of Forensic Clinical Identification • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Application Progress of Objective Audiological Detection Techniques in Forensic Clinical Medicine

Fei FAN1(), Juan WU2, Zhen-hua DENG1()   

  1. 1.West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
    2.Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710004, China
  • Received:2023-04-19 Online:2023-10-10 Published:2023-08-25
  • Contact: Zhen-hua DENG

Abstract:

The qualitative, quantitative, and localization analysis of hearing loss is one of the important contents of forensic clinical research and identification. Pure-tone audiometry is the “gold standard” for hearing loss assessment, but it is affected by the subjective cooperation of the assessed person. Due to the complexity of the auditory pathway and the diversity of hearing loss, the assessment of hearing loss requires the combination of various subjective and objective audiometric techniques, along with comprehensive evaluation based on the case situation, clinical symptoms, and other examinations to ensure the scientificity, accuracy and reliability of forensic hearing impairment assessment. Objective audiometry includes acoustic impedance, otoacoustic emission, and various auditory evoked potentials. The frequency-specific auditory brainstem response (ABR), 40 Hz auditory event related potential, and auditory steady-state response are commonly used for objective hearing threshold assessment. The combined application of acoustic impedance, otoacoustic emission and ABR can be used to locate hearing loss and determine whether it is located in the middle ear, cochlea, or posterior cochlea. This article reviews the application value of objective audiometry techniques in hearing threshold assessment and hearing loss localization, aiming to provide reference for forensic identification of hearing loss.

Key words: forensic medicine, audiology, objective audiometry, hearing loss, auditory evoked potential, review

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