Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potential and Visual Evoked Potential of High Risk Infants

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Maturation of the acoustic and visual pathways in brainstem can be reflected by the brainstem auditory evoked potential(BAEP) and visual evoked potential(VEP) response studies. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the high-risk infants by the BAEP and VEP studies as a screening test for Their brainstem maturities. METHOD: The BAEP and VEP studies were used as a screening test in 142 high-risk infants with 31 to 42 weeks of conceptional age. Further follow-up data were obtained within 1 year in the same infants who showed the abnormal findings in BAEP and VEP at an initial screening test. RESULTS: On an initial BAEP and VEP study, the proportion of the abnormal findings was significantly higher among infants with below 36weeks(53.8%, 28.2%) of conceptional age than above 36 weeks(27.2%, 3.9%). At the follow-up study, 3 of 21 infants with no responses in BAEP and 1 of 6 infants with no responses in VEP on an initial test showed the persistent abnormal findings. However, normal configurations of BAEP and VEP were observed in infants with prolonged latencies or with distorted waveforms of BAEP and VEP at the first examination. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the BAEP and VEP studies on the useful screening tests in infants above 36weeks of conceptional age. Because of the risk of persistent abnormal results, infants with no responses on an initial screening test need a follow-up study.