Auditory brain stem responses and cortical auditory-evoked potentials in difficult-to-test children.

Abstract

Brain-stem-evoked responses (BERs) and cortical auditory-evoked potentials (AEP) were recorded in 24 children showing severe behavioral disorders. BER testing always requires sedation if not general anesthesia. This allowed us to perform precise acoustic impedance measurements, and thus to find 3 glue ears. The electrophysiological tests revealed whether there was sensorineural deafness, which was cared for if necessary. Finally, when the BERs were normal, we evaluated the modifications in the cortical AEP, in relation to a clinical classification closely related to that of the DSM III of the American Academy of Psychiatry.