Abstract
The auditory brainstem evoked response to clicks matures to adult values within the first two years of life. To evaluate this procedure as a measure of nervous system maturation in premature infants, serial testing was done in 20 infants of 35 weeks or less gestational age. The children were tested at weekly intervals. Gestational age was determined by Dubowitz's criteria. Thirty normal fullterm infants served as controls. All subjects were tested with clicks of 80 dBSL at a stimulus rate of 9-12/sec and averaged by computer. Responses were obtainable in all infants over 30 weeks. The earliest waves noted were I, III, and V. Waves II, IV, and VI were unstable in early recordings. However, waves II, IV, and VI were present in over 50% of patients as they approached 40 weeks. The latency of wave V gradually decreased at a rate of about .2msec. per week to fullterm. However waves I and III approached relatively mature latencies earlier, at 34 to 37 weeks. The standard deviation for the latency of wave V was large. This value, contrary to previous reports, is a relatively insensitive measure of gestational age and may be influenced by perinatal factors. The appearance of the auditory brainstem evoked response at 30 weeks and the rapid serial decrease in its latency from 30 to 42 weeks gestational age suggest that this procedure can be useful in monitoring the maturity and serial development of the nervous system in the premature infant.
Log in or create a free account to read this content
Gain free access to this article, as well as selected content from this journal and more on nature.com
or
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Krumholz, A., Goldstein, P., Felix, J. et al. 1136 SERIAL MATURATION OF AUDITORY BRAINSTEM EVOKED POTENTIALS IN PRE-TERM INFANTS. Pediatr Res 12 (Suppl 4), 553 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-01142
Issue date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-01142
