The impact of intraventricular hemorrhage on brainstem auditory function in preterm babies

Whether intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) in preterm babies affects the brainstem auditory pathway is undetermined. This study investigated the functional status of the pathway in preterm babies with IVH to assess the effect of IVH on the pathway.

Brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER) was studied at term equivalent age in 83 preterm babies with or without IVH and 35 normal term controls, and between different groups of babies to detect any abnormality in preterm IVH babies.

Compared to the normal term group, the preterm IVH group manifested an elevated BAER threshold (p < 0.01). The IVH group also manifested moderate prolongation in BAER wave latencies and significant reduction in waves III and V amplitudes (p < 0.05, and 0.05). Compared to the age-matched non-IVH group, the IVH group manifested a moderately higher BAER threshold and relatively shorter wave V latency. However, the I-V interval in the IVH group was significantly shorter than in the non-IVH group (p < 0.05). The amplitudes of BAER waves in the IVH group were smaller than in the non-IVH group, and the differences were significant for wave III amplitude (p < 0.05).

This first specific BAER study in IVH revealed that preterm babies with IVH are associated with moderately elevated hearing threshold and shortened brainstem auditory conduction. Brainstem auditory function in preterm babies is affected by IVH.