Prediction of delayed neuro-psychomotor development in infants using brainstem auditory evoked potentials and the Bayley II scales

Abstract Background: Delayed neuro-psychomotor development in infants tends to be present more often as a result of perinatal issues such as asphyxia, respiratory failure, and prematurity. Brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP) provide an objective analysis of central nervous system function and development in infants. This study proposed to assess the neuro-psychomotor development in infants affected by perinatal conditions by comparing the results of their BAEP with assessments of development including mental development indices (MDI), a form of Bayley Scales of Infant Development. Methods: The retrospectively selected population included preterm (28-36 weeks gestation; 95 cases) and term infants (≥ 37 weeks gestation; 100 cases) who were born with specific perinatal conditions. The BAEP were recorded in these infants from 1 to 8 months of age, and the MDI were performed in these infants at age 2 years. Chi-square, ANOVA, and student t-tests were used to test significance of BAEP correlations with MDI indices in theses infants. Significance was determined at a p-value ≤ 0.05. Results: In premature infants (28-32 weeks gestation), 75% had abnormal BAEP, and MDI at age 2 years were moderately low (90.76 ± 4.1); fewer term infants had abnormal BAEP (24.5%), and MDI at age 2 years were moderately higher (98.55 ± 4.6). Preterm infants with abnormal BAEP, and perinatal asphyxia or respiratory failure had low MDI at age 2 years (76.36 ± 3.66 or 80.36 ± 7.66, respectively); 60% fewer term infants with these perinatal conditions had abnormal BAEP, and their MDI were 3-10% higher. Our results show that infants experiencing prematurity, perinatal asphyxia or respiratory failure, may have lower scores of neuro-psychomotor development at age 2, if earlier tests reveal abnormal BAEP assessments in these infants. Conclusion: Our study found that premature infants exposed at birth to conditions such as asphyxia and respiratory failure, and exhibiting abnormal BAEP in their first year, may be predicted to present with delayed neuro-psychomotor development. We propose that BAEP may be utilized as a potential indicator for neuro-psychomotor development, and suggest that parental education and early intellectual interventions to enrich cognition development in children with abnormal BAEP should be encouraged.