Auditory evoked potential responses in chronic malnourished children.

Auditory evoked potential responses were recorded in 20 chronic malnourished children in age group 3-6 years and in 20 healthy age and sex matched controls using an 5200 Neuropack plus ( Nihon Koden, Japan) evoked potential recorder. The absolute peak latencies, inter peak latencies and amplitude of waves I-V of brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) were analyzed. The mid latency responses (MLRs) were also studied in these children. Malnutrition was characterized by stunting, which indicated chronicity of nutritional deprivation. The children with chronic Protein energy malnutrition (PEM) had prolonged peak latencies of waves I, II, III and IV. The interpeak latencies I-III and III-V were also prolonged. The amplitude of wave I and V did not show any significant difference as compared to controls. The middle latency responses were not significantly different from the controls. Thus malnutrition affects the peripheral developmental process of auditory pathways only in the brainstem and the central thalamocortical projections of these pathways are spared.