Abstract
We studied the auditory brainstem responses of 50 high risk neonates from NICU and compared with those of 25 normal neonates in order to determine the percentage of significant auditory impairment in NICU and correlated it to various risk factors. Infants with the risk factors of low birth weight, hyperbilirubinemia, asphyxia, septicemia and meningitis were included in the study group. All the 150 ears were tested at 4 intensities 30 dB, 46 dB, 60 dB and 75 dB. The study recorded prolongation of latency of wave V and I– V Interwave interval in the study group with a statistically significant difference denoting an impaired condition. Incidence of significant auditory impairment was 18%. On follow up at 6 months incidence of persistent auditory abnormality was 4%. On the basis of this study it is suggested that all high risk neonates should undergo screening for hearing impairment.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
American Academy of Pediatrics. Joint Committee on Infant Hearing, Position Statement.Paediatrics, 1982; 70:13.
Cox LC, Hack M and Metz D.A. Longitudinal ABR in the NICU infant.Int J Fed Otorhinolaryngology, 1982; 4: 225–231.
Davis H. Principles of Evoked response AudiometryAnn Otol Rhinol Laryngol, 1976; 85 (Suppl. 28) 1–96,1976.
Deorari, Garg, Ahuja and Meharban Singh. ABR in normal neonates and infants.Indian Pediatrics, 1989; 26: 566–570.
Despland P and Galambos R. The ABR is a useful diagnostic tool in the Intensive Care Nursery.Pediat Res. 1990; 14 (2): 154–158.
Eldredge L and Salamy A. Neurobehavioral and neurophysiological assessment of healthy and ‘at risk’ full term infants:Child Develop. 1988; 59 :186–192.
Fria TJ and Doyle WJ. Maturation of ABR additional perspectivesEar Hearing 1984; 5 (6): 361–365.
Galambos R and Despland PA. The ABR evaluates risk factors for hearing loss in the newborn.Pediat Res. 1980; 14: 159–163.
Goldstein SJ, Krumholz A, Felix JK, Shannon D and Carr RF. Brainstem Evoked responses in neonates.Amer. J Obstet Gynecol. 1979; 135: 622.
Hyde ML, Riko K, Corbin Morose, M and Alberti PW. A neonatal hearing screening research program using BERA.J Otol aryngol. 1984; 13: 49–54.
Ito H. ABR in NICu Infants:In J Ped Otorhinolaryngol, 1984; 8 :155–162.
Lary S, Briassoulis G, DeVries L, Dubowitz L and Dubowitz V. Hearing threshold in preterm and term infants ABR.J Pediat. 1985; 107: 593–599.
Mjoen S, Langslet A, Transgrud SE and Sundby, A. ABR in high risk neonates.Acta Paediat Scand. 1982; 71: 711–715.
Murray AD. Newborn ABER: Perinatal and contemporary correlates.Child Develop, 1988; 59 :571–588.
Raj H. Hearing assesment by BAER in neonates at risk.Indian Pediatrics. 1991; 28 (10): 1175–1183.
Salamy A. Contrasts in brainstem function between normal and high risk infants in early postnatal life.Early Hum Dev. 1980; 4:179–185.
Schulman Galambos, C. and Galambos, R. Brainstem Evoked Response Audiometry in Newborn hearing screeningArch Otolar. 1979; 105: 86–90.
Starr A and Achor LJ. ABR in neurological disease.Arch Neurol. 1975; 32: 761–768.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Chadha, S., Bais, A.S. Auditory brainstem responses in high risk and normal newborns. Indian J Pediatr 64, 777–784 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02725499
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02725499