Auditory brainstem responses in children with early recurrent middle ear disease.

Auditory brainstem responses were recorded from an experimental group of 15 children with early histories of recurrent middle ear disease for the purpose of examining the effects of reduced auditory input on auditory brainstem function. The responses from these children were analyzed in terms of absolute latencies, interwave latencies and latency shifts across sensation level. Comparisons were made to a control group of children with no history of middle ear disease. Results indicated significant differences between the groups. The experimental group demonstrated greater absolute latencies for waves III and V as well as greater interwave latencies. These findings support the interpretation of an association between early recurrent middle ear disease and brainstem function.