Brainstem auditory evoked potentials in late preterm infants at term-equivalent age

To detect differences between late preterm and term infants in the brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER) variables that predispose to neurodevelopmental abnormalities, 36 late preterm infants and 87 term infants were recruited. Data collected with the click level at 70 dB nHL were used for analysis. The latencies of waves I (2.74 +/- 0.20 msec vs. 2.74 +/- 0.42 msec), III (5.55 +/- 0.33 msec vs. 5.53 +/- 0.45 msec) and V (7.55 +/- 0.34 msec vs. 7.59 +/- 0.44 msec), and the interpeak intervals for late preterm infants were similar to those for term infants. There were no significant differences between late preterm and term infants in amplitudes I (0.26 +/- 0.11 mu V vs. 0.24 +/- 0.10 mu V) and V (0.25 +/- 0.06 mu V vs. 0.28 +/- 0.11 mu V), and in the V/I amplitude ratio (1.10 +/- 0.47 vs. 1.23 +/- 0.46). There were no significant differences in the BAER variables between late preterm infants and term infants. Late preterm birth does not appear to have marked effects on neonatal BAER or development of the brainstem.