OBJECTIVETo compare the characteristics of auditory event-related potentials (AERP) evoked by pure tone stimuli and Chinese speech stimuli respectively, and to explore the feasibility of using Chinese speech stimuli to evoke AERP for Chinese.

METHODSAERP were tested by both Chinese speech and pure tone as stimuli in normal young participants (83 ears in 44 young postgraduate students), then each AERP wave form were scored. The latencies, amplitudes and scores of AERP evoked by speech stimuli were compared with by pure tone stimuli.

RESULTSTypical waves of AERP were recorded and identified more easily with speech stimuli than pure tone stimuli, moreover, the differences were statistically significance (X2 = 4.0, P = 0.039). The latency and amplitude of P3 evoked by both Chinese speech stimuli and pure tone stimuli in the 72 ears were no significant difference (P > 0.05). But the mean scores of AERP evoked by speech stimuli were significantly higher than those evoked by pure tone stimuli (t = 6.57, P = 0.000). N2 and P3 latency in left ear evoked by speech stimuli were significantly shorter than those evoked by pure tone stimuli (P = 0.002, P = 0.003). However there were no significant differences in right ear(P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSChinese speech stimuli were more consistent with requests of AERP test and custom of Chinese spoken language, so the Chinese speech stimuli was more available for Chinese's AERP test than pure tone stimuli.