Auditory Brainstem Evoked Potentials in Preterm Infants

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the change of peak latency, interpeak latency and amplitude of auditory brainstem evoked potentials (AEPs) in normal preterm infants in accordance with the age, and to find out the correlation between reproducibility of AEPs and high risk of premature infants. METHOD: AEP studies were performed on 266 premature infants (male 143, female 123) within a month of the birth. Acquired potentials were grouped by the reproducibility of waveforms, and latency, interpeak latency and amplitude were measured in each group of potentials to interpret age appropriate changes of AEPs. RESULTS: 1) Peak latency of peak I, III and V were shortened in accordance with the age, especially latency of peak V was significantly decreased from 7.42 msec to 6.84 msec. 2) There was no significant change in interpeak latency or amplitude of AEPs according to the postmenstrual age. 3) Reproducibility of AEPs was worse in premature infants with history of asphyxia. CONCLUSION: Considering the results, the latency of peak V can be used as one of the useful parameter to investigate and follow up the premature infants. Significant negative correlation between low grade reproducibility and history of neonatal asphyxia was found.