Effects of Maternal Cocaine Abuse on Neonatal Auditory Brainstem Responses

Auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) were recorded from 18 neonates born to mothers who used cocaine during pregnancy, and from 18 control infants matched to the cocaine group on the basis of birthweight and conceptional age. ABRs were elicited using click signals presented at 40, 60, and 80 dB nHL at a rate of 33 clicks/sec and also at 11 and 89 clicks/sec at 80 dB nHL. The absolute latencies for ABR components I, III, and V and wave I-V interpeak latencies (IPLs) were measured for each signal condition.ABR absolute and IPLs for the infants who had been exposed to cocaine were prolonged relative to their age- and weight-matched controls. Neurodevelopmental compromise of the auditory system appears to result from gestational exposure to cocaine.