Maturation of the auditory brainstem response from birth through early childhood.

The various parameters of the auditory brainstem response (ABR) undergo distinct maturational transformations in early life. The multiplicity of observed changes suggests unique timetables for development of the contributing neural elements. Although the precise physioanatomic substrate of the ABR remains speculative, experimental manipulations and selective response measures have been utilized to elucidate the developmental process. Even at our current level of understanding, the ABR has proven to be a valuable tool for the study of functional development in the nervous system. In the perinatal period and early childhood, the ABR constitutes one of the most reliable measures of neural integrity in the cochlear and caudal brainstem pathway. As our knowledge expands, the ABR should continue to provide information on the neurological and audiological status of healthy and special risk populations.