Functional abnormality of the auditory brainstem in high-risk late preterm infants

Small-for-gestation birth exerts a minor additional effect on functional impairment of the auditory brainstem in high-risk babies born at late preterm

“…However, higher intensities were also used for those babies who had a BAER threshold >20 dB nHL, the same as our previous MLS BAER studies (Jiang, 2012a(Jiang, , 2015Jiang et al, 2012;Li et al, 2011). As such, MLS BAER data in all subjects could be collected at a hearing level or click intensity slightly higher than 40 dB above the threshold of each baby to compensate for individual differences in hearing sensation and for the influence of sensation level on BAER interpeak intervals (Jiang, 2012a(Jiang, , 2015Sohmer and Friedman, 1992;Stockard et al, 1979).…”

“…The general study procedures, approved by the Ethics Committee of the Children's Hospital of Fudan University in Shanghai, were the same as we previously reported (Jiang and Li, 2015;Jiang et al, 2012Jiang et al, , 2015Wilkinson et al, 2007). The recording, using Nicolet Spirit 2000 Portable Evoked Potential System (Nicolet Biomedical Inc. Madison, WI, USA), was made while the infant fell asleep naturally, often after a feed.…”

“…Any possible effect of threshold elevation and peripheral hearing loss on the identification and measurements of MLS BAER components was minimized. The clicks were presented at four repetition rates to detect any variation in the MLS BAER results at different rates and examine click rate-dependent change (Jiang, 2012(Jiang, , 2015Jiang et al, 2012;Wilkinson et al, 2007). Two runs of recordings to each stimulus condition were made to evaluate the reproducibility of recorded MLS BAER waveforms.…”

“…Recent studies have shown that BAER and MLS BAER in highlate preterm babies are abnormal, typically an increase in wave V latency, III-V and I-V interpeak intervals, and III-V/I-III interval ratio, suggesting impaired brainstem auditory function (Jiang, 2012b;Jiang et al, 2011Jiang et al, ,2012. It is unclear whether SGA birth could exert an additional effect on the impaired brainstem auditory function in these babies.…”

“…It is unclear whether SGA birth could exert an additional effect on the impaired brainstem auditory function in these babies. To address this issue, on the basis of the subjects and data we previously reported (Jiang et al, 2012), we recruited more subjects, mainly high-risk SGA late preterm babies, and conducted a detailed analysis of the accumulated data. The data of the high-risk SGA late preterm babies were first compared with those of age-matched late preterm babies born with a birthweight appropriate-for-gestational age (AGA) and without major perinatal problems that may affect the auditory brainstem (i.e.…”