All issues > Volume 45(10); 2002

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 2002;45(10):1199-1203. Published online October 15, 2002.

Clinical Significance of Auditory Brainstem Response(ABR) in Speech/Language Disorders

Ki Won KW Oh¹, Woo Saeng WS Park¹, Soon Hak SH Kwon¹, Jin Kyung JK Kim², Jun Hwa JH Lee³

¹Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
²Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Daegu, Korea
³Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Ulsan University, Ulsan, Korea

Correspondence Woo Saeng WS Park ,Email: ppwwss@medigate.net

Abstract

Purpose
: The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of auditory brainstem response(ABR) as a screening tool in children with speech and language disorders.
Methods
: Between January 1, 1999 and December 31, 2001, 139 patients with chief complaints of speech and language delay were recruited from the pediatric neurology clinic, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, Korea. They had ABR on entry and the clinical data were then analyzed.
Results
: Fifteen out of 139 cases(10.8%) showed abnormal findings; seven had pervasive developmental disorders, four had developmental language disorders, and four were noted to have other conditions. Among them, seven cases were noted to have conductive hearing loss and eight had sensoryneuronal hearing loss. We also evaluated the normal values in children at the ages of 18 months to seven years. The mean latency of wave I and V were 1.40¡¾0.13 and 5.57¡¾0.26 respectively. Interpeak latency of I-V was 4.18¡¾0.24.
Conclusion
: Based on these findings, ABR has proved to be a highly sensitive and specific index of hearing impairment. It should be used as a screening tool in children with speech and language disorders.

Keywords :Speech and language disorders, auditory brainstem response(ABR)