ABSTRACT
Several factors, including those in the high-risk register, were studied in 1240 graduates of an intensive care nursery who underwent auditory brain-stem response testing. Univariate analysis, with chi 2 and Fisher's Exact Test, and stepwise logistic regression were used to identify variables associated with auditory brain-stem response outcomes. Results suggest that factors in the high-risk register do not carry equal weight and that universal screening in the intensive care nursery may be preferable.
Subject(s)
Audiometry, Evoked Response , Deafness/diagnosis , Registries , Apgar Score , Cleft Lip/complications , Cleft Palate/complications , Deafness/ethnology , Deafness/etiology , Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem , Female , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Male , Odds Ratio , Prospective Studies , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
Higher-level auditory/cognitive functions were evaluated in 16 children: eight with asymptomatic congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections and eight children documented not to have asymptomatic congenital CMV infections. Hearing sensitivity was within normal limits in all subjects. Results in both groups were within the normal range on the screening measures of verbal abilities, visual perception, social behavior, and memory span. In contrast, results of the auditory measures revealed abnormal dichotic speech perception, delayed latencies on auditory brainstem evoked responses, and disproportionately slow reaction times in a difficult listening condition (Stroop task). With the exception of dichotic speech perception, however, the pattern of auditory results suggested subtle disorders that were difficult to discern unequivocally with the small subject sample. Further studies are encouraged to determine the status of higher-level auditory/cognitive functions in children with asymptomatic congenital CMV infections.
Subject(s)
Cytomegalovirus Infections/congenital , Hearing/physiology , Child , Child, Preschool , Cytomegalovirus Infections/physiopathology , Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem , Female , Humans , Longitudinal Studies , Male , Memory , Social Behavior , Speech Perception , Verbal Behavior , Visual PerceptionABSTRACT
Children without an auditory brainstem evoked response can benefit from an auditory-oral hearing habilitation program. This study focuses on 31 such children enrolled at the Houston School for Deaf Children. Eleven had excellent auditory-oral skills, with language ability equal to normal-hearing children of a similar age, and speech easily intelligible to a familiar listener. A statistically significant factor associated with success was hearing acuity at 250 Hz. Other important factors included age at enrollment at the school, duration of enrollment, degree of parental support, and absence of middle ear disease.
