Does peripheral auditory threshold correlate with brainstem auditory function at term in preterm infants?

Conclusion. Peripheral auditory threshold does not correlate with brainstem auditory function in preterm infants. Infants with peripheral auditory abnormality seem not to be necessarily more prone to brainstem auditory abnormality than those without the elevation, although further studies are needed in a larger number of subjects. Objective. To investigate whether peripheral auditory threshold correlates with brainstem auditory function in preterm infants and shed light on whether preterm infants with threshold elevation are prone to central auditory abnormality. Patients and methods. Brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER) was recorded with clicks at term in preterm infants (gestation 28-36 weeks). Analysis of correlation was made between BAER threshold and various BAER components. BAER data were compared between preterm infants with thresholds <= 20 dB nHL (n = 113) and those >20 dB (n = 32). Results. Although BAER threshold correlated significantly with BAER wave latencies and amplitudes, the threshold did not correlate significantly with I-V, I-III and III-V intervals. No significant differences were found between preterm infants with BAER thresholds <= 20 dB and those >20 dB in I-V, I-III intervals, although III-V was longer in the infants with thresholds >20 dB nHL (p < 0.05).