[The clinical significance of auditory evoked potentials of the brainstem in neonates]. / Significado clínico de los potenciales evocados auditivos de troncoencéfalo en neonatos.

INTRODUCTION: Brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP) are an objective test that provides an early detection of hearing losses and a functional evaluation of the auditory pathway. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All neonates born between November 1989 and December 1994 presenting some factor of audiologic or neurologic failure were tested by ABR, in order to determine the prognostic significance of abnormalities on follow-up. RESULTS: Of 40 selected babies 17 did not pass the former test and were classified as follows: eleven in a peripheral hearing loss group of mild-moderate degree and 6 in groups of severe peripheral hearing loss or central disorder of the auditory pathway. CONCLUSIONS: On follow-up an ABR test was included disclosing that many of the mild-moderate peripheral abnormalities has a transitory nature. Infants included in the other two groups had a very poor outcome from the point of view of life expectancy and psychomotor development.