ISSN:
1434-4726
Keywords:
Auditory maturation
;
Conductive hearing loss
;
Auditory brainstem responses
;
Middle latency responses
;
Guinea pigs
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Summary A reversible conductive hearing loss produced during the first 4 weeks post partum caused marked alterations in the development of click-evoked auditory brainstem (ABR) and middle latency (MLR) responses in guinea pigs. The early component PI in the ABR in controls showed adult-like latencies at the time of birth, while the later ABR components PIII and PV and all components investigated in the MLR showed postnatal development characterized by a shortened latency that persisted for the whole period of investigation. The course of the ABR latencies showed the sharpest decrease during the first 2–3 weeks of life, while that for the MLR took place during the first 5 weeks. In addition to the increased ABR thresholds and lengthened ABR latencies due to the conductive hearing loss, development of the ABR inter-peak latencies (IPL) and MLR latencies was retarded. The IPL reached control values 1 week after the end of the deprivation phase, while the delay in MLR started later (4th week) and lasted longer than did that in the ABR. These findings showed that a long-lasting postnatal conductive hearing loss does not generate sustained impairment at the level of the brainstem but can evoke longer-lasting deficiencies at higher stations of the auditory pathway.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00188388
