Abstract
OBJECTIVES:Assessing infants’ hearing is of utmost importance, as hearing at this phase is required for the development of oral language. Through hearing, human beings are capable of developing communication. The Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials are an indispensable test to diagnose deafness in infants. This study aimed to analyze the results of the Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials in children with risk factors for hearing loss.METHODS:This cross-sectional study analyzed the Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials in 123 infants aged 1 to 24 months at a hearing health care service. The Vivosonic Integrity V500 equipment, which enabled the child to be awake while the testing was carried out, was used in this study. The data were compared by gestational age and sex, according to the standards suggested in the equipment handbook.RESULTS:A significant difference was verified for age ranges 4 to 6 months, 13 to 15 months (waves I and V), and 7 to 9 months (wave V). The lower values in absolute wave latencies were comparable to data from the equipment handbook, justifying the need for standardization of the screening process.CONCLUSION:There are some differences between the standards in the equipment handbook and those observed in our study. These results will serve as a reference for the standardization of the equipment used in the hearing health care service.
Highlights
The hearing assessment in infants is of utmost importance, as hearing in this phase is required for the normal development of oral language and cognitive functions
This study aims to analyze the results of Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials (BAEP) in children with risk factors for hearing loss
In the age range between 7 and 9 months, a statistically significant difference occurred in absolute latency of wave III, which was greater among male infants
Summary
The hearing assessment in infants is of utmost importance, as hearing in this phase is required for the normal development of oral language and cognitive functions. Hearing allows human beings to identify, locate, and develop sensory experiences; this contributes to the maturation of the hearing system, and the cognitive and emotional functions. It is essential for acquisition and development of the oral and written language. Several organizations [1] and committees have established guidelines to implement Newborn Hearing Screening (NHS). In Brazil, the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening (UNHS) became mandatory under Federal Law 12,303 and began to be implemented in August 2010, following the model of developed countries [2].
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