Age-dependent amplitude variation of brain-stem auditory evoked potentials.
Normative amplitude values of brain-stem auditory evoked potential (BAEP) components are given for normally hearing subjects at 1, 10, 30, 50 and 70 years of age, with an intragroup age variation of only +/- 6 months. Under these circumstances amplitude standard deviations decreased to less than 20% of the mean values. In contrast with the reduced evolution of latency with age, BAEP amplitude (for components I-V) undergoes a greater oscillation during ontogeny. With the exception of component I, it increased markedly from 1 year to 10 years of age and decreased thereafter constantly up to 50 years, with a mean rate of 10 nV yearly. The decrease slowed down between 50 and 70 years. The amplitude differences between the subgroups are highly significant statistically (P less than 0.01). Possible reasons for these changes are discussed.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005072:Evoked Potentials, Auditory; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged