Brainstem auditory evoked potentials in newly detoxified alcoholics

The effects of detoxication on auditory transmission were examined using Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials (BAEP) in a group of alcoholics undergoing treatment and compared to nonalcoholic controls. BAEP responses, obtained at 2 click stimulation rates (11.3/sec and 31.3/sec), were examined for morphology, absolute latencies, interpeak latencies and I/V amplitude differences. All mean latency values were found comparable for the two groups. For a number of waves in each ear, data for alcoholics were significantly more variable than that of controls. A significant number of alcoholics, however, had atypical waveforms (i.e., missing components) and some, unexpected I/V amplitude differences, with the amplitude of wave I larger than that of V in comparison to controls. The clinical interpretation of evoked potential findings for individual alcoholic patients is likely to be precarious due to the observed high variability of latency and amplitude values.