[The clinical significance of auditory evoked potentials of the brainstem in neonates].
BACKGROUND
Brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP) are an objective test that provides an early detection of hearing losses and a functional evaluation of the auditory pathway.


METHODS
All neonates born between November 1989 and December 1994 presenting some factor of audiologic or neurologic failure were tested by ABR, in order to determine the prognostic significance of abnormalities on follow-up.


RESULTS
Of 40 selected babies 17 did not pass the former test and were classified as follows: eleven in a peripheral hearing loss group of mild-moderate degree and 6 in groups of severe peripheral hearing loss or central disorder of the auditory pathway.


CONCLUSIONS
On follow-up an ABR test was included disclosing that many of the mild-moderate peripheral abnormalities has a transitory nature. Infants included in the other two groups had a very poor outcome from the point of view of life expectancy and psychomotor development.
Rodríguez-Gómez
J
J
Servicio de Neurofisiología Clínica, Hospital del Bierzo, Fuentesnuevas-Ponferrada, León, España.
Rodríguez-Rodríguez
M R
MR
D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem; D005865:Gestational Age; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008017:Life Expectancy; D015997:Neonatal Screening; D011596:Psychomotor Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index