Auditory Brainstem Response in Intrauterine Growth Restriction

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.