EARLY DEVELOPMENT OF BRAIN-STEM AUDITORY EVOKED-POTENTIALS IN DOWNS-SYNDROME

Early development of brainstem auditory pathway was studied in 14 children with Down's syndrome (age range from 1 month to 3 years). The brainstem auditor, evoked potentials (BAEP) during infancy was characterised by elevated threshold and poorly differentiated wave I. All children within 2 years had elevated threshold in one or both ears, suggesting a high incidence of peripheral hearing deficits. Follow-up tests showed that as age increased up to 3 years the elevated threshold gradually decreased and the differentiation of wave I improved. The I-V interpeak interval was slightly shorter and the amplitude of wave V was smaller than the normal controls, which existed continuously during follow-up studies. Our findings suggest that the development of peripheral hearing is delayed, although persistent hearing deficits cannot be excluded, and the functioning and development of the brainstem auditory pathway may also be abnormal in Down's syndrome children. © 1990.