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[The effect of iron deficiency anemia on the auditory brainstem response in infant]
1Department of Pediatrics, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing.
Insights
Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in infants impairs auditory function, particularly high-frequency hearing, leading to listening difficulties. Prompt iron therapy can reverse these auditory system impairments, crucial for infant health.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric neurology
- Auditory neuroscience
- Hematology
Context:
- Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a prevalent condition in infants.
- IDA's impact on developing brain function, especially auditory pathways, requires further elucidation.
- Auditory brainstem response (ABR) is a key diagnostic tool for infant hearing and neural pathway assessment.
Purpose:
- To investigate the effects of IDA on infant auditory brainstem response (ABR).
- To determine the relationship between IDA severity and ABR abnormalities.
- To assess the reversibility of auditory impairments following iron therapy in infants.
Summary:
- Auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing was conducted on 48 infants with IDA and 30 controls (6-36 months).
- 54.2% of IDA infants exhibited abnormal ABR, primarily indicating peripheral auditory system impairment rather than brainstem dysfunction.
- A direct correlation was observed between IDA severity and the degree of ABR abnormality, with elevated ABR thresholds in IDA infants suggesting high-frequency hearing difficulties.
Impact:
- IDA significantly impacts infant auditory processing and high-frequency hearing.
- Auditory system impairments in IDA infants are reversible with timely iron supplementation.
- Early detection and treatment of IDA are critical for preventing long-term auditory and developmental consequences in children.
Abstract:
Our study attempts to explore the mechanism by which iron deficiency anemia (IDA) affects the brain function of infants. We made auditory brainstem response (ABR) test for 48 IDA infants and 30 normal control infants, aged 6-36 months and reexamined ABR in 4 IDA infants after three months iron therapy. 26 cases of abnormal ABR among 48 IDA infants were found, it took 54.2% of total IDA infants. IDA led mainly to peripheral impairments of auditory system and rarely to brainstem. There was a direct relationship between the severity of IDA and the degree of abnormality of the ABR in infants. The threshold of ABR in IDA infants was significantly higher than that of in control group. It suggests that IDA infants have listening comprehensive difficulty as a result of impairment in high frequency hearing. After follow-up of 4 IDA infants, it was found that the impairment of auditory system could be reversible after prompt correcting of IDA. This observation has important significance for child health in the future.