Effect of Perinatal asphyxia and body hypothermia on hearing evocated potentials and development in the first two years of life

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Perinatal asphyxia is associated with a high risk of death as well as a risk of deterioration of neurodevelopment both early and late, in addition, severe episodes can have an important effect on auditory function, cochlear damage and retrocochlear neuronal lesions. With the use of body hypothermia therapy as a neuroprotector in the first 72 hours, it has been possible to improve the survival of neonates, as well as the neurodevelopmental results in cases with moderate to severe HIE. Objective To describe the characteristics of the AEPP of infants with moderate and severe HIE treated with body hypothermia and their relationship with the development achieved at one and two years of age. Material and Method, 51 children were studied who underwent PEATC at 3, 6 and / or 12 months of age and their development was evaluated at 12 and 24 months of age with the Gesell, Bayley II and Bayley III tests. Results The PEATC values ​​were similar to those observed in healthy children and were significantly correlated with development at both ages, especially waves I and III. The Normal / Altered categories in the PEATC showed differences of one standard deviation in the developmental score. Conclusions the PEATC showed a relationship with later development; the characterization of normality / alteration that we propose allowed to show the PEATC as an indicator of risk for development, even before the frank damage in the auditory pathway.