A longitudinal study on auditory developmental responses in very preterm moderately preterm and late preterm infants

Abstract

The aim of the study was to compare the maturational changes of the auditory responses through ABR and DPOAE tests in very preterm moderately preterm and late preterm infants at 1 month 3 to 4 months and 6 to 7 months of corrected age Totally 165 preterm infants with pass results in newborn hearing screening and normal middle ear function were included in the study ABR and DPOAEs were recorded using NeuroAudio version 10 Neurosoft Russia For ABR recording monaural click stimuli 0 point 1 ms was presented at the rate of 11 point 1 s in rarefaction polarity Absolute latencies interpeak latencies and amplitude of peak V were analysed DPOAEs were measured at 6 frequencies and amplitude in dB SPL across frequencies was analysed Results indicated that infants with different gestational age follow a particular pattern of auditory maturation There was no deviation in the pattern of auditory maturation it followed the typical caudal to rostral form of maturation The functional development of auditory brainstem catches term infants by 3 months in late preterm infants who had no other associated peri and postnatal complications At 6 to 7 months of corrected age ABR latencies in very preterm and moderately preterm infants were almost similar to late preterm infants It was interesting to know that gestational age did not have influence on DP levels newline newline newline newline