title: Maximum length sequence BAER at term in low-risk babies born at 30-32 week gestation.
abstract: Thirty babies born at 30-32 week gestation without any major perinatal problems were studied at term with brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER) to detect any abnormalities in central auditory function in low-risk very preterm babies. The BAER was recorded and analyzed at 37-42 week postconceptional age using maximum length sequence technique (MLS). The data obtained were compared with those of 38 normal term controls. Wave I and III latencies in the very preterm babies did not show any significant differences from the controls at all repetition rates of click stimuli used (91-910 s(-1)). Wave V latency and I-V interpeak interval tended to increase at all click rates, and differed significantly from the controls at the highest rate 910 s(-1) (P < 0.05). Both III-V interval and III-V/I-III interval ratio increased significantly at all click rates, particularly at 455 and 910 s(-1) (P < 0.05-0.001). On the other hand, I-III interval tended to decrease. None of wave I, III and V amplitudes showed any abnormalities. Neither did V/I nor V/III amplitude ratios. These results suggest that development of the central auditory system is slightly delayed, which can be shown by MLS BAER at very high rate-stimulation, in low-risk very preterm babies.
authors.affiliation: Neonatal Unit, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK. zedong.juang@paediatrics.ox.ac.uk
authors.forename: Ze Dong
authors.initials: ZD
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Dorothea Maria
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Brosi
authors.forename: Andrew Robert
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Wilkinson
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D012044:Regression Analysis