Auditory brainstem response in infants with iron deficiency anemia

Hemawathiy Sundagumaran1, Jayashree Seethapathy2

  • 1Speech Language Pathologist & Audiologist, India.

Insights

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in infants prolongs auditory brainstem response (ABR) latencies, affecting central auditory system development. Untreated IDA can lead to lasting neuro-functional alterations.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric audiology
  • Neurodevelopmental disorders
  • Hematology

Background:

  • Auditory brainstem response (ABR) in infants with Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA) provides insights into central nervous system auditory pathways.
  • IDA is a common condition in infants, potentially impacting neurological development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze and compare absolute and interpeak latencies of ABR in infants with and without IDA.
  • To investigate the impact of IDA on auditory pathway maturation.

Main Methods:

  • ABR traces were recorded from 40 anemic and 40 non-anemic infant ears (6-24 months).
  • Recordings utilized click stimuli at various intensity levels (70, 50, 30 dBnHL).

Main Results:

  • Prolonged absolute latencies for ABR peaks (except peak I) were observed in infants with IDA across tested intensities.
  • Peak amplitudes were similar at higher intensities but reduced significantly at 30 dBnHL in the IDA group.
  • Interpeak latencies showed no significant difference at 70 dBnHL, but prolonged III-V and I-V latencies were noted at 50 and 30 dBnHL in infants with IDA.

Conclusions:

  • Iron deficiency appears to affect the functional development of the infant auditory system.
  • Untreated IDA may have long-lasting consequences on the central auditory system, altering neuro-functional maturation.
Abstract

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