Auditory brain stem response in neurologically normal preterm and full-term newborn infants

Area of Science:

• Neonatal audiology
• Neurophysiology
• Pediatric audiology

Background:

• Auditory brain stem responses (ABR) are crucial for assessing hearing in newborns.
• Establishing normative ABR data in preterm and full-term infants is essential for early detection of hearing impairments.
• Neurological status significantly impacts ABR results, necessitating careful patient stratification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish normative regression scores for auditory brain stem response (ABR) wave latencies (I and V) and the I-V interval in neurologically optimal newborn infants.
• To compare ABR results between neurologically optimal and suboptimal newborn populations.
• To provide a baseline for assessing auditory function in abnormal infants.

Main Methods:

• Auditory brain stem responses (ABR) were recorded in preterm and full-term newborn infants.
• Stringent clinical and ultrasound criteria were used to define a neurologically optimal group.
• Regression scores for wave I and V latencies and the I-V interval were calculated at 80 dB and 60 dB stimulation levels.
• A parallel study included a neurologically suboptimal group with transient neurological abnormalities.

Main Results:

• The 80 dB stimulus yielded more consistent ABR results with a narrower standard deviation compared to 60 dB.
• Establishing consistent hearing thresholds was challenging in this newborn population.
• Neurologically suboptimal infants demonstrated deviations in their ABRs compared to the optimal group.

Conclusions:

• Normative ABR data were established for neurologically optimal newborns, providing a valuable reference.
• The study highlights the impact of neurological status on ABR outcomes.
• The findings offer a baseline for the audiological assessment of neurologically abnormal infants, facilitating earlier diagnosis and intervention.