Is there a difference between extrauterine and intrauterine maturation on BAEP?

A difference between extrauterine and intrauterine maturation on BAEP has not been established, remaining a subject of controversy. The present study involved 76 children, aged between 36 and 37 weeks (conceptional age), with an extrauterine life duration of equal to or less than 2 weeks (N = 46) or more than 2 weeks (N = 30). The latencies for waves III and V, and the I-III and I-V intervals were significantly shorter for the neonates with a greater extrauterine life duration. An explanation for this finding is discussed: the head size is significantly smaller in the group with a greater extrauterine life duration. An influence of extrauterine life duration on BAEP is thus shown, but it seems to reflect the anatomical consideration and not to peripheral auditory system maturation.