Brainstem auditory evoked potentials in newly detoxified alcoholics.
The effects of detoxication on auditory transmission were examined using Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials (BAEP) in a group of alcoholics undergoing treatment and compared to nonalcoholic controls. BAEP responses, obtained at 2 click stimulation rates (11.3/sec and 31.3/sec), were examined for morphology, absolute latencies, interpeak latencies and I/V amplitude differences. All mean latency values were found comparable for the two groups. For a number of waves in each ear, data for alcoholics were significantly more variable than that of controls. A significant number of alcoholics, however, had atypical waveforms (i.e., missing components) and some, unexpected I/V amplitude differences, with the amplitude of wave I larger than that of V in comparison to controls. The clinical interpretation of evoked potential findings for individual alcoholic patients is likely to be precarious due to the observed high variability of latency and amplitude values.
D000328:Adult; D000430:Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium / Q000503:physiopathology; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005072:Evoked Potentials, Auditory; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology