[Acoustic evoked discrimination potentials in early childhood]

In 68 children without brain-disease, 3 months to 8 years of age, auditory non-target event-related potentials have been elicited. A 500 Hz-tone of 500 ms duration served as frequent stimulus, while a seldom (20%) and irregularly offered 2000 Hz-tone of the same duration produced the event-related potentials. Comparison between the four kinds of successively recorded potentials (100% 500 Hz, 80% 500 Hz with 20% 2000 Hz, and 100% 2000 Hz) led to the identification of potentials reflecting discrimination of the two sounds, since their latencies significantly differed in the event-related potential from the other three kinds of potentials. Latencies of the peaks in the event-related potentials showed evidence of maturation with increasing age. Normal values with 2.5-sigma border of the latencies of the event-related peaks were compiled bringing about the possibility to use the method in the clinical work-up of children with brain diseases.