Brainstem evoked response audiometry and risk factors in premature infants

Abstract

Objective: In this study; we evaluated the effects of possible risk factors according to the Joint Committee on Infant Hearing in preterm infants and physiologic anemia of prematurity on brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER) measurement variables. Methods: For this aim, twenty-nine term newborn infants underwent the BAER recording session between 48 hours to 7 days of age. In 29 preterm infants, BAER was performed at a mean postconceptional (gestational age + age after birth) age of 39.4 ± 0.8 weeks (38-42 weeks). Type of delivery, birth weight <1500 g, hyperbilirubinemia exceeding phototherapy limits, aminoglycoside therapy, respiratory distress syndrome, low Apgar scores, and physiologic anemia of prematurity were evaluated. I,III,V peak latencies and I-III, III-V, I-V interpeak latencies were measured and analyzed. Results: There were no significant differences for latencies and interpeak latencies between term and preterm groups at the same postconceptional age. We found that type of delivery (caesarean section), birth weight <1500 g, hyperbilirubinemia exceeding phototherapy limits, and low Apgar scores affected some of the BAER parameters (p<0.05). However, we did not find any effect of aminoglycoside (amicasin and/or netilmicin) therapy, respiratory distress syndrome on BAER measurement variables. Although the mean latencies and interpeak latencies in anemic preterm group were higher than non-anemic preterm group, statistically significant difference was not found (p>0.05). Conclusion: We suggest that the effect of anemia of prematurity on BAER parameters should be studied in a larger group of infants.