Contrasts in brainstem function between normal and high-risk infants in early postnatal life.

Brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) were recorded from healthy and high-risk infants at selected ages throughout their first year of life. Amplitude and latency measurements of peaks I, III and V were treated in a series of multivariate analyses of variance. Significant main effects for age (newborn, 3 wk, 6 wk, 3 mth, 6 mth and 1 yr), group (healthy, risk) and peaks (amplitude and latency of BAEP waves I, III and V) were observed. In addition, the interaction between these factors proved statistically significant. As expected, the pattern of response amplitude and latency for the various peaks differed as a function of age. Moreover, healthy and risk infants revealed different maturational trends. These results indicate that infants born 'at risk' but free of severe auditory deficits and major neurological difficulties can be distinguished from healthy (age-matched) controls in terms of the BAEP throughout the first postnatal year.