Using Bera To Detect Persistence of Auditory Injury In High Risk Infants.

OBJECTIVE This cross-sectional comparative study tried to assess the hearing status of the high risk infants by Brainstem Evoked Response Audiometry (BERA) and compare with that of the normal infants. MATERIAL & METHODS BERA was done on 127 infants of 6 to 18 months age of which 87 were high risk. All were given monaural acoustic stimulation using Cz-M₁/M₂ Montage. Waves I, III and V were analysed for absolute & interpeak latencies (in ms) & also for amplitudes (in µv) & their ratio. All the parameters were compared at 70 dB stimulus at p < 0.05 significance. Results were analysed by Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software, version 14.0. RESULTS There was no significant difference of mean age and sex between the two group. In the study froup, mean values of all the Absolute and Inter-Peak Latencies of both ears were significantly higher and mean Amplitudes of waves I and V of both ears were significantly smaller than that of the Control group. CONCLUSION The study found evidence of persistent injury to the various parts of the auditory pathway even as the high risk infants grew up.