Theses - Honors College
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/2104/8111
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Browsing Theses - Honors College by Author "Achor, L. Joseph"
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Item The Auditory Brainstem Response and Autism(2017-05-23) Russell, Kate; Achor, L. Joseph; Neuroscience.; Baylor University.; Honors College.The goal of this thesis is to explain the use of the auditory brainstem response (ABR) in research on autism and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Following an explanation of the ABR and its evolution as a diagnostic and research tool in many fields, we concentrate on its role in autism research. ASD is a complex disorder and likewise has a complex etiology including genetic and environmental factors, among which may include brainstem abnormalities. ABR demonstrates these abnormalities; slower conduction and increased latencies have been observed in the ASD population more frequently than in the normal population. These studies have led to a range of theories on the contribution of brainstem and neural development to ASD. Although data has been historically inconsistent at times, patterns have emerged that may prove ABR a useful diagnostic predictor for ASD and reveal differences in subpopulations of patients with ASD, including gender differences.Item The Auditory Brainstem Response: History and Future in Medicine(2013-05-24) Lambell, Devyn; Achor, L. Joseph; Neuroscience.; Honors College.The Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) is a neurophysiological test used to assess the functionality of the central auditory pathway, which includes structures from the auditory nerve to the rostral brainstem. The ABR provides a reading that measures hearing ability based on the electrical output from the different structures along the pathway. The waveforms in the results show the strength of the response and the time it takes for the auditory signal to travel between structures. Deviations in ABR output point to central auditory pathway dysfunction. These deviations can be used to diagnose neural hearing loss due to diseases, lesions, and tumors at various points within this system. The objective of this thesis is to discuss the history of the ABR and the various ways in which this procedure has been used in the medical field. The discussion will cover a variety of medical uses, with a particular focus on the implementation of the ABR in a universal hearing screening for newborns and the benefits it provides by allowing for early detection and intervention for children with hearing loss.