Study of brainstem auditory evoked potentials in children with Bell′s palsy

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the function of auditory nerve and brainstem in children with Bell′s palsy by using brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAEP). Methods A retrospective study was carried in total of 69 patients with Bell′s palsy admitted in the pediatric department of Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University from January 2017 to January 2018.There were 33 males and 36 females, aged 1 to 12 years old.Sixty healthy children served as control group.BAEP were determined in 69 patients and 60 healthy subjects.EEG and CT or MRI of brain were performed to exclud tumor, intracranial infection and so on.The patients in the case group were divided into 2 groups: 1-3 years old group (38 cases) and 4-12 years old group (31 cases). Sixty healthy children were also divided into 2 groups: 1-3 years old group (30 cases) and 4-12 years old group (30 cases). Results The hearing threshold was normal in the children of the control group.There was no significant difference not only in potential latency but also internal potential latency of BAEP between right and left ear.The abnormal rate of BAEP was 39.1% (27/69) in case groups, 19 cases of them recovered(70.4%, 19/27) after 2 weeks of clinical treatment.Another 8 patients recovered after 2 months.The abnormality rate of EEG was 5.8% (4/69), and the abnormality rate of CT or MRI in head was 14.5% (10/69). Both were nonspecific changes.In the two groups, Ⅰ-Ⅲ internal potential latency was significantly shortened(P<0.05), and Ⅲ-Ⅴinternal potential latency was significantly prolonged (P<0.05)respectively, between the normal side and abnormal side.There were significant differences in the Ⅲ potential latency(P<0.05), Ⅰ-Ⅲinternal potential latency (P<0.01), and Ⅲ-Ⅴ internal potential latency (P<0.01) respectively, between pretherapy and post-treatment. Conclusion Bell′s palsy of children could cause abnormal of auditory nerve conduction, and BAEP could find the electro physiologic abnormality in nervous system, and guide clinical intervention. Key words: Children; Bell′s palsy; Brainstem auditory evoked potential