Brain-stem auditory function in very preterm infants with chronic lung disease: Delayed neural conduction

Objective: To examine brain-stem auditory function at term in very preterm infants who suffered chronic lung disease (CLD). Methods: Brain-stem auditory evoked response (BAER) was recorded at term with clicks in 25 very pretenn infants with CLD and no concomitant other major perinatal problems. Results: Compared to those in normal term controls, BAER wave V latency and I-V and III-V interpeak intervals in the CLD infants increased significantly (ANOVA P < 0.01-0.001). III-V/I-III interval ratio also increased significantly (P < 0.01). The latencies of waves I and III did not differ significantly from the controls. However, no abnormalities were found in BAER wave amplitudes. These BAER findings, obtained at 21/s clicks, were also seen at the rates 51 and 91/s, although the increase in III-V interval tended to be more significant. Click rate-dependent changes in BAER variables in the CLD infants were generally similar to the controls, with slight differences. C Conclusions: BAER components, mainly reflecting central auditory function, increased significantly. The increase in wave V latency and I-V interval is due to the increase in III-V interval. Significance: Neural conduction in the more central portion of the brain-stem auditory pathway is delayed and thus brain-stem auditory function is impaired in CLD infants. (c) 2006 International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.