Auditory brainstem response findings in autism spectrum disorder speech delay population

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Pediatrics
• Audiology

Background:

• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition affecting communication and social interaction.
• Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) is a non-invasive electrophysiological test used to assess the auditory pathway function.
• Previous studies have indicated potential differences in ABR findings in children with ASD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate pediatric Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) findings in children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) following the 2013 DSM-5 update.
• To compare ABR results between children with ASD and neurotypical children with speech delay.
• To identify specific ABR waveform and interpeak latency (IPL) abnormalities associated with ASD.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective chart review of 148 pediatric patients with speech delay from 2017 to 2023.
• Patients were stratified into two groups: Neurotypical (N=79) and ASD (N=69).
• ABR results, including waveform and IPLs, were analyzed using Pearson's chi-square test and multivariate analysis.

Main Results:

• 40.6% of children with ASD exhibited at least one waveform or IPL prolongation.
• Increased incidence of waveform III and IPL III-V prolongation was observed in the ASD group compared to neurotypical controls.
• Waveform III prolongation was significantly more common in females with ASD.

Conclusions:

• Pediatric patients with ASD showed a higher percentage of waveform and IPL prolongations compared to neurotypical children.
• While not as high as previously reported, these findings suggest potential auditory pathway alterations in ASD.
• Race and age were not significant factors, except for a specific age range (2-3 years), warranting further investigation.