[The auditory evoked brain stem potential andits value for clinical diagnosis]

Auditory evoked brain stem potentials (seven waves within the first 10 milliseconds after the stimulus) obtained from the intercalated nuclei within the auditory pathway by averaging are suitable for a functional diagnosis of the brain stem. Disorders affecting the auditory pathway (direct or indirect tumour pressure or infiltrates, demyelinisation processes, traumatic brain stem injuries, ischemia) from the acoustic nerve through the cochlear nuclei, the superior olivary nuclei, the nuclei of the lateral lemnisci, the inferior collicular nuclei, to the medial geniculate bodies can be identified and used for the topical diagnosis.