[Auditory evoked potentials in addicts to organic solvent inhalation].

Organic solvents affect the membrane lipids of neurons and glial cell. This led us to search for auditory damage, by means of brainstem auditory evoked responses, in subjects with chronic inhalation of thinner. Waves III and V showed delayed latency at an intensity of 90 dB, and wave V was delayed at 70 and 30 dB; the interwave intervals I-III and I-V at 90 dB and the interpeak I-V at 70 dB were also retarded. Three subjects did not show a response to stimulation at 30 dB: pure tone audiometry showed biaural mild hypoacusia in them. These results show that chronic inhalation of thinner may alter the auditory pathway of addicts.