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Updated: May 25, 2026
Infant Auditory Processing and Event-related Brain Oscillations
Published on: July 1, 2015
Term neonates receiving intensive care at high risk of brainstem auditory impairment
Zedong Jiang1, Dorathea Brosi, Rong Yin
1Department of Paediatrics, Children's Hospital, Fudan University, 399 Wan Yuan Rd, Shanghai, China, 201102. jiangzedong-oxshang@hotmail.com
Insights
Neonates in intensive care show auditory brainstem impairments, indicated by delayed responses. These findings suggest a heightened risk of hearing dysfunction in these vulnerable infants.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Audiology
- Neonatology
Background:
- Auditory brainstem function is critical for hearing development.
- Neonates in intensive care are susceptible to various health complications.
- Assessing auditory brainstem integrity is crucial for early detection of hearing impairment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the functional integrity of the auditory brainstem in neonates receiving intensive care.
- To identify specific auditory pathway abnormalities using brainstem auditory evoked response.
- To correlate these findings with potential perinatal risk factors.
Main Methods:
- Utilized maximum length sequence brainstem auditory evoked response (MLS BAER) in 72 term neonates undergoing intensive care.
- Compared auditory brainstem response parameters with those of normal term neonates.
- Analyzed wave V latency, interpeak intervals (I-V, III-V, I-III), and their relationship with click presentation rates (91 to 910/s).
Main Results:
- Neonates in intensive care exhibited increased wave V latency and prolonged I-V and III-V interpeak intervals compared to controls.
- Significant increases in latencies and intervals were observed, particularly at higher click rates (455 and 910/s).
- Steeper latency-rate and interval-rate functions indicated impaired neural signal processing in the auditory brainstem.
Conclusions:
- Intensive care neonates demonstrate significant auditory brainstem abnormalities, suggesting a high risk for central auditory processing deficits.
- These MLS BAER abnormalities point towards impairment in the more central auditory pathways.
- The observed auditory impairments may stem from cumulative adverse effects of multiple perinatal risk factors.
Abstract:
Functional integrity of the auditory brainstem was examined using maximum length sequence brainstem auditory evoked response in 72 term neonates who were receiving intensive care. Compared with normal term controls, the neonates receiving intensive care showed an increase in wave V latency and I to V and III to V interpeak intervals of the response. Wave V latency was significantly increased at very high click rates 455 and 910/s. I to V and III to V intervals were significantly increased at all 91 to 910/s, particularly 455 and 910/s, while I to III intervals were slightly increased. III to V/I to III interval ratios were increased at 455 and 910/s clicks. The slopes of wave V latency-rate, I to V interval-rate, III to V interval-rate and III to V/I to III-interval-ratio-rate functions were significantly steeper than in normal controls. These abnormalities suggest that neonates receiving intensive care are at high risk of brainstem, mainly more central regions, auditory impairment. The MLS BAER abnormalities and brainstem auditory impairment might be the result of collective adverse effects, produced by more than one perinatal risk factor.
