Postnatal functional status of the brainstem auditory pathway in term infants after perinatal hypoxia-ischemia

Abstract

Objectives

To examine postnatal changes in the impaired brainstem auditory pathway in term infants after perinatal hypoxia-ischemia (HI).

Methods

Brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER) was studied at 2–4 months of age in term infants who suffered perinatal HI. The BAER data obtained at various click rates in these infants were compared with those in age-matched normal term controls to detect any abnormalities.

Results

The infants after HI showed a slight elevation in BAER threshold. Four (9.8%) infants had threshold elevation. At 21/s clicks, there was a slight decrease in wave I latency, and a slight increase in wave III and V latencies. However, the I–V and I–III intervals in these infants were significantly increased (p < .05 and .05), whereas III–V interval was slightly increased. At higher click rates of 51 and 91/s, all BAER variables showed similar changes, with only small variations. An abnormal increase in the I–V and/or I–III intervals was seen in 4 (9.8%) infants, who were not associated with BAER threshold elevation.

Conclusions

At 2–4 months of age, around 20% of the infants after perinatal HI showed a moderate degree of either peripheral or central impairment of the brainstem auditor pathway. Monitoring postnatal changes could provide valuable information for postnatal care of infants after perinatal HI.

Keywords:

• Auditory evoked potentials
• brainstem auditory impairment
• hypoxia-ischemia
• perinatal brain damage

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).