title: Alterations in early auditory evoked potentials in multiple sclerosis patients.
abstract: Alterations in early auditory evoked potentials (EAEP) in individuals with demyelinating disease are suggestive of lesions in the brainstem.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  this study aims to evaluate the prevalence of hearing disorders and altered EAEP in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  sixteen female and nine male patients with a defined diagnosis of multiple sclerosis took part in this study. All individuals underwent hearing and EAEP tests. The wave forms were categorized according to Jerger (1986).
  
  
  RESULTS
  fifty EAEP tests were carried out; 70% were classified as type I (normal response) according to Jerger's criteria. Altered EAEP results in at least one ear were classified into types II, III, IV or V according to Jerger. Females accounted for 31.25% of alterations, and males 44.44%, adding up to 36% of all cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  these findings stress the importance of looking at EAEP in cases where there is suspicion of demyelinating disease and in patients with a defined diagnosis for MS.
authors: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, FM, UFMG
authors: Tania Mara Assis
authors: TM
authors: Lima
authors: Aline Nascimento
authors: AN
authors: Crato
authors: Patrícia Cotta
authors: PC
authors: Mancini
authors: Lília Correa
authors: LC
authors: Simões
authors: Denise Utsch
authors: DU
authors: Gonçalves
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001307:Auditory Perception / Q000502:physiology; D001309:Auditory Threshold / Q000502:physiology*; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000473:pathology; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D055815:Young Adult