Comparison of Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response in Normal Infants, Male and Female, Right and Left Ear

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Brainstem auditory evoked response(BAER) is used as screening test for hearing disorders, damages of the central nervous system and congenital anomalies. We studied the difference values according to gender and stimulation sites in normal full-term infants. METHODS: We performed BAER in 38 male and 28 female normal full-term infants, delivered in the Gil Medical Center, Gachen Medical School, from March to July 1996, aged one to seven days. Amplitude I, V, V/I and latency I, III, V and interpeak latency(IPL) I-III, III-V, I-V were measured at 90, 60, 45, 30 dB. Data were analyzed between both sex and between both ears with Student t-test. RESULTS: There were no significant difference in male and female group with the same side's stimulation. At 90 dB, amplitude I of left ear stimulation was significantly higher than right in male and female. Amplitude V/I of right ear stimulation was significantly higher than left ear stimulation in total only. At 90 dB, latency I of right was significantly longer than left in male and female. Latency III of right was longer significantly in total only. IPL I-III, I-V was significantly longer in left than right in male and total. At 60 dB intensity, all data except latency I in total, showed no significant difference. CONCLUSIONS: Interpreting BAER, stimulation site and intensity should be considered. and further studies will be needed for the evaluation of the difference between left and right ear.