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Published on: June 29, 2013
Auditory Brainstem Response in Intrauterine Growth Restriction
Şule Çekiç1, Salihe Erdoğan2, Şerife Suna Oğuz3
1Department of Audiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Ankara, Turkiye.
Insights
Auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing in infants with asymmetric intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) revealed significant differences in auditory pathway function. Stimulus type critically impacts ABR results in these infants.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pediatrics
- Audiology
Background:
- Asymmetric intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) can impact neurodevelopment.
- Hearing impairment is a potential consequence of IUGR, yet it's often overlooked in screening.
- Auditory brainstem response (ABR) is a key diagnostic tool for infant hearing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess auditory brainstem response (ABR) in infants with asymmetric intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).
- To compare ABR findings in IUGR infants with those of healthy, term-born infants.
- To investigate the effect of different auditory stimuli on ABR in IUGR infants.
Main Methods:
- 20 infants with asymmetric IUGR and 20 healthy term infants were enrolled.
- Auditory brainstem response (ABR) was measured using click, chirp, and 4-kHz tone burst stimuli.
- Evaluated parameters included wave latencies, interpeak intervals, and wave amplitudes.
Main Results:
- Infants with asymmetric IUGR showed significantly shorter Wave V absolute latency and Waves I-V interpeak intervals for click and chirp stimuli.
- A 4-kHz tone burst revealed a significantly shorter Wave III absolute latency in both ears of IUGR infants.
- These findings indicate functional differences in the auditory pathway related to IUGR.
Conclusions:
- Auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing demonstrates neurosensory changes in infants with asymmetric IUGR.
- IUGR is associated with functional auditory differences not currently identified by standard newborn hearing screening.
- The choice of auditory stimulus is crucial for accurate ABR assessment in IUGR infants.
Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the auditory brainstem response (ABR) of infants with asymmetric intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) in response to different stimuli and to compare the findings with those of term infants.
Method:
A total of 20 infants with asymmetric IUGR who had no risk factors for hearing loss and 20 term healthy infants as a control group participated. Click, chirp, and 4-kHz tone burst at 90 dB nHL stimuli were used, and Waves I, III, and V absolute latencies; Waves I-III, I-V, and III-V interpeak intervals; and wave amplitudes were evaluated.
Results:
The Wave V absolute latency and Waves I-V interpeak interval of both click and chirp stimuli in infants with asymmetric IUGR were significantly shorter in both ears (p < .05). In contrast, only Wave III absolute latency was significantly shorter for both ears (p < .05) with a 4-kHz tone burst.
Conclusions:
ABR test with click, chirp, and 4-kHz tone-burst stimuli revealed that there are functional differences attributed to IUGR. Contrary to popular belief, these findings are evidence of neurosensory changes caused by IUGR, which is not included as a risk factor in newborn hearing screening programs. The type of stimulus used in the assessment was critical.
