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Updated: Jun 18, 2026
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Application of an Amplitude-integrated EEG Monitor (Cerebral Function Monitor) to Neonates
Published on: September 6, 2017
Relationship between brainstem auditory function during the neonatal period and depressed Apgar score
Ze Dong Jiang1, Andrew Robert Wilkinson
1Neonatal Unit, Department of Paediatrics, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK. zedong.jiang@paediatrics.ox.ac.uk
Summary
A depressed 5-minute Apgar score in newborns is linked to central auditory impairment by day 3. A low 1-minute Apgar score may indicate future peripheral auditory issues in infants.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal neurology
- Auditory neuroscience
- Pediatric audiology
Background:
- Depressed Apgar scores in newborns can indicate potential health risks.
- Brainstem auditory evoked responses (BAERs) are crucial for assessing auditory pathway integrity.
- Understanding the link between Apgar scores and auditory function is vital for early intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between depressed Apgar scores and brainstem auditory impairment in neonates.
- To determine if Apgar scores predict auditory dysfunction during the neonatal period.
Main Methods:
- Recorded Brainstem Auditory Evoked Responses (BAERs) in 145 term infants with Apgar scores ≤ 6.
- Collected data from day 1 to day 30 post-birth.
- Analyzed correlations between BAER parameters (wave latencies, interpeak intervals) and Apgar scores (1, 5, and 10-minute).
Main Results:
- A depressed 5-minute Apgar score correlated with prolonged BAER wave V latency and I-V, III-V intervals on day 3.
- No significant correlation was found between 1-minute Apgar scores and BAERs within the first 15 days.
- On day 30, 1-minute Apgar scores showed a negative correlation with all BAER wave latencies, but not intervals.
Conclusions:
- A depressed 5-minute Apgar score on day 3 is an indicator of central auditory impairment in neonates.
- A depressed 1-minute Apgar score may be associated with later developing peripheral auditory impairment.
