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Updated: Jun 16, 2026
Infant Auditory Processing and Event-related Brain Oscillations
Published on: July 1, 2015
Infants with neonatal Chronic Lung Disease are associated with delayed auditory conduction in the rostral brainstem
Ze Dong Jiang1, Cui Wang1, James K Jiang1
1Division of Neonatology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, China.
Insights
Neonatal Chronic Lung Disease (CLD) in Very Low Birthweight (VLBW) infants prolongs the brainstem auditory pathway
Area of Science:
- Neonatology
- Neuroscience
- Auditory Neuroscience
Background:
- Very Low Birthweight (VLBW) infants with neonatal Chronic Lung Disease (CLD) may exhibit brainstem auditory pathway dysfunction.
- Previous research indicates functional impairment at term.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the functional status of the brainstem auditory pathway in VLBW infants with CLD after term.
- To identify abnormalities in auditory pathway function post-term.
Main Methods:
- Fifty-two VLBW infants were studied at 50 weeks postconceptional age.
- 25 infants had neonatal CLD, 27 did not; other major complications were excluded.
- Brainstem Auditory Evoked Responses (BAER) were recorded at various click rates (21–91/s).
Main Results:
- VLBW infants with CLD showed shorter BAER wave I and III latencies and lower thresholds compared to controls.
- The III–V interpeak interval was significantly prolonged in infants with CLD across all click rates (p < 0.05).
- No significant differences were found in Wave V latency or BAER component amplitudes.
Conclusions:
- The primary BAER abnormality in VLBW infants with CLD is a prolonged III–V interval, indicating delayed central auditory conduction.
- Neonatal CLD adversely affects central auditory function after term.
- Post-term monitoring is crucial for managing CLD infants.
Aims:
Very Low Birthweight (VLBW) infants with neonatal Chronic Lung Disease (CLD) have been found to have functional impairment of the brainstem auditory pathway at term. This study investigated the functional status of the brainstem auditory pathway in VLBW infants with CLD after term for any abnormality.
Methods:
Fifty-two VLBW infants were recruited at 50 weeks of Postconceptional Age: 25 with neonatal CLD and 27 without CLD. None had any other major complications to minimize confounding effects. Brainstem Auditory Evoked Responses were studied at 21‒91/s click rates.
Results:
Compared with those without CLD, VLBW infants with CLD had relatively shorter latencies of BAER waves I and III, associated with a slightly lower BAER threshold. Wave V latency and I‒V interpeak interval did not differ significantly between the two groups of infants. The I‒III interval in infants with CLD was shorter than in those without CLD at 91/s clicks. However, the III‒V interval was significantly longer than in those without CLD at all click rates (all p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the amplitudes of BAER wave components between the two groups of infants.
Conclusions:
The main BAER abnormality in VLBW infants with CLD was a prolonged III‒V interval. Auditory conduction is delayed or impaired at more central regions of the brainstem in CLD infants. After term central auditory function is adversely affected by neonatal CLD. Monitoring post-term change is required to provide valuable information for post-term care of CLD infants.
