J Korean Acad Rehabil Med.  1999 Aug;23(4):733-743.

The Significance of Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potential in High-Risk Neonates

• Lee CK
• Hwang JH
• Kim JA

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To observe the prognostic value of brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP) for prediction of cerebral palsy (CP) in the high-risk neonates. METHOD: Eighty-one high-risk neonates were subjected to take the history of illness, neurological examination, developmental assessment, BAEP study within one month after birth. They had been checked for detection and management of the CP in period of 12 to 56 months after birth. Associating factors were observed about their gestational age at birth, 1-minute Apgar score, history of asphyxia and/or intubation, and hyperbilirubinemia and/or exchange transfusion.
RESULTS
Abnormal BAEP findings were seen in 38 of 81 (46.9%) high-risk neonates and 6 of 81 (7.4%) were diagnosed as a CP. Five of 6 CPs and 42 of 75 non-CPs had been abnormal in BAEP study. Neonatal BAEP study showed 83.3% sensitivity, 44% specificity, 98.4% false positive and 2.9% false negative in predicting CP. Asphyxia showed high correlation with abnormality of BAEP and CP (p<0.01). Gestational age, low birth weight, toxemia, germinal matrix hemorrhage (GMH) grade II and intubation were correlated with CP (p<0.05) but not with the abnormality of BAEP.
CONCLUSION
It is suggested that BAEP study of high-risk neonate is useful in prediction of CP because of low false negative and high sensitivity.

Keyword

High-risk factors; Brainstem auditory evoked potential; Cerebral palsy

MeSH Terms

Apgar Score
Asphyxia
Brain Stem*
Cerebral Palsy
Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem*
Gestational Age
Hemorrhage
Humans
Hyperbilirubinemia
Infant, Low Birth Weight
Infant, Newborn*
Intubation
Neurologic Examination
Parturition
Sensitivity and Specificity
Toxemia