All issues > Volume 38(8); 1995

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1995;38(8):1054-1060. Published online August 15, 1995.

Auditory Evoked Potentials in Fullterm Infants with Birth Asphyxia and Premature Infants

Ha Shin HS Park¹, Myung Suk MS Song¹, Sun Jun SJ Kim¹, Hea Jin HJ Choeh¹, Kyu Chul KC Choeh¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, Eulji General Hospital, Taejon, Korea

Abstract

Purpose
: Auditory evoked potentials(AEP) are sensitive electrophysiological technique which accurately assesses the functional integrity of the auditory pathway in the brainstem. As a test of brainstem function, AEP have the advantages that the procedure is standardized, the results are reproducible, the norms for neonated have been estsblished, and the equipment to perform the test is widely available. Our study was designed to evaluate the normal value of AEP in premature infants and to seek eidence of any influence of birth asphyxia upon the AEP of full term neonates.
Methods
: AEP testing was performed in 25 normal control neonates, 21 premature infnats, and 12 full term nonates with birth asphyxia with 5-minute Apgar score 5 or less. We compared the findings of peak latency, interpeak latency, hearing threshold, and latency-intensity function(LIF) curve.
Results
: In premature infants, the peak latency and interpeak latency were prolonged compared to normal control neonates. In full term neonates with birth asphyxia, the LIF curve showed sharper slope than in ocntrol, so cross over the normal LIF curve at about 60-70 dB and the hearing threshold was statistically significantly elevated compared to normal control neonates.
Conclusion
: We conclude that the AEP findings of premature infants are due to central nervous system immaturity, and in full term neonates with birth asphyxia, the findings of sharp slope of LIF curve and elevated hearing threshold shows greater risk of sensory-neural hearing loss. Therefore by using stringent criterial of selection and appropriate statistical analysis, AEP may be used for screening of hearing impairment in a population of high-risk infants.

Keywords :Auditory Evoked Potentials(AEP), Prematurity, Birth Asphyxia