Intranasal Dexmedetomidine for Sedated Hearing Testing

Auditory brainstem response testing is necessary in children who are not able to be tested by classical audiogram, because of their age or an associated retarded psycho-motor development or behavioral and cognitive troubles. This test needs a perfect immobility of the child, ideally being asleep. This situation is sometimes impossible to achieve in non-cooperative children. Currently, in the Pediatric Hospital of Nice, the investigators have to do a general anesthesia to perform quality auditory response tests in this kind of patients. The alternative to a general anesthesia would be a reliable sedative drug, allowing the performance of this diagnostic exam without the need of a hospitalization. Dexmedetomidine is a sedative drug with an action on the α2 adrenergic receptors. It causes a rapid sedation, similar to the natural sleep and with minimal secondary effects. The possibility of an intranasal administration, avoids the pain and discomfort of a venous access insertion.