Hearing loss in early infancy affects maturation of the auditory pathway

• Published in: Developmental medicine and child neurology Vol. 44; no. 2; pp. 123 - 129
• Main Authors: Tibussek, Daniel, Meister, Hartmut, Walger, Martin, Foerst, Astrid, von Wedel, Hasso
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01-02-2002; Mac Keith Press
• Subjects: Adolescent; Animals; Auditory Pathways - abnormalities; Auditory Pathways - physiopathology; Auditory Tests; Child; Child, Preschool; Cochlea - physiopathology; Cognitive Development; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem - physiology; Female; Hearing Impairments; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural - diagnosis; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural - physiopathology; Humans; Infant; Male; Original Articles; Retrospective Studies; Severity of Illness Index; Young Children
• ISSN: 0012-1622; 1469-8749
• DOI: 10.1017/S0012162201001785

The influence of early cochlear hearing loss on maturation of the auditory pathway was studied by measuring auditory brainstem responses (ABR). In a retrospective study, 85 children with normal hearing (46 males, 39 females; age range 2 months to 14 years) and 165 children with binaural cochlear hearing impairment (89 males, 76 females; age range 1 month to 16 years) were examined. A significant positive correlation (p<0.001) between the degree of hearing loss and interpeak latencies I–V (IPLI–V) of the ABR was observed. No significant correlation (p=0.85) was found between hearing loss and interpeak latencies I–III (IPLI–III). These findings can be interpreted as indicating a marked delay in maturation of higher brainstem structures due to reduced auditory input during infancy. The correlation differs notably from results of comparable studies of adults published in recent literature. This leads to the assumption that the developing human brain is particularly sensitive to auditory deprivation. Thus, our results indicate the importance of a normal acoustic environment during sensitive periods in early childhood to ensure normal hearing and speech development.