Abstract
Brain-stem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) were measured in 38 patients between 3 months and 18 years of age. In patients with blunt head injuries (N=28; 73.7%) no significant correlation between BAEP changes and final outcome could be established until day 36 with the exception of wave III changes in 3 children. Because various BAEP abnormalities occurred in all outcome groups and the nature of the changes was transient, we conclude that within this age group there must be a higher resistance to various lesions until irreversible impairment of brain-stem function results. In spite of this result, continuous BAEP recording in this age group appears useful, since this noninvasive investigation represents an objective assessment of topical brain-stem function.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Buchwald JS, Huang CM (1975) Far-field acoustic response origin in the cat. Science 189:382–384
Jennett B, Bond M (1974) Assessment of outcome after severe brain damage. A practical scale. Lancet I:480–484
Jewett DL, Williston JS (1971) Auditory-evoked far fields averaged from the scalp of humans. Brain 94:681–696
Lev A, Sohmer H (1972) Sources of averaged neural responses recorded in animal and human subjects during cochlear audiometry (electro-cochleogram). Arch Klin Exp Ohren Nasen Kehlkopfheilkd 201:79–90
Lumenta CB (1984) Measurements of brain-stem auditory evoked potentials in patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage. J Neurosurg 60:548–552
Lumenta CB (1985) Die Bedeutung der akustisch evozierten Potentiale (AEP) in der Neurochirurgie. Habilitationsschrift, Universität Düsseldorf
Marshall RE, Reichert TJ, Kerley SM, Davis H (1980) Auditory function in newborn intensive care unit patients revealed by auditory brain-stem potentials. J Pediatr 96:731–735
Mjoen S, Langslet A, Tangsrud SE, Sundby A (1980) Auditory brainstem responses (ABR) in high-risk neonates. Acta Paediatr Scand 71:711–715
Pfenninger J, Kaiser G, Lütschg J, Sutter M (1983) Treatment and outcome of the severely head injured child. Intensive Care Med 9:13–16
Roberts JL, Davis H, Phon GL, Reichert TJ, Sturtevant EM, Marshall RE (1982) Auditory brainstem responses in preterm neonates: maturation and follow up. J Pediatr 101:257–263
Seales DM, Rossiter VS, Weinstein ME (1979) Brainstem auditory evoked responses in patients comatose as a result of blunt head trauma. J Trauma 19:347–353
Stein L, Ozdamar O, Kraus N, Paton J (1983) Follow-up of infants screened by auditory brainstem response in the neonatal intensive care unit. J Pediatr 103:447–453
Stockard JE, Westmoreland BF (1982) Technical and consideration in the recording and interpretation of the brainstem auditory evoked potentials for neonatal neurologic diagnosis. J Electrophysiol Technol 8:31–54
Teasdale G, Jennett B (1974) Assessment of coma and impaired consciousness. A practical scale. Lancet II:81–84
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lumenta, C.B., Krämer, M., Sprick, C. et al. Measurements of brain-stem auditory evoked potentials in infancy, childhood, and adolescence. Child's Nerv Syst 1, 337–340 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00270819
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00270819