Auditory Neural Maturation After Exposure to Multiple Courses of Antenatal Betamethasone in Premature Infants as Evaluated by Auditory Brainstem Response

Abstract

Compared with a single recommended course of antenatal steroids, multiple courses of antenatal betamethasone are not associated with a deleterious effect on auditory neural maturation in 28 to 32 weeks' gestational age infants.

Antenatal factors modulate hearing screen failure risk in preterm infants

“…According to Waters et al ,29 antenatal steroid exposure did not affect hearing screen outcomes in VLBW infants. Multiple courses compared with a single course of betamethasone did not impact ABRs in exposed infants30 31 or hearing outcomes at age 5 years 32. However, Lee et al 33 observed that prenatal betamethasone reduced the risk for hearing impairment, but prenatal dexamethasone increased the risk for hearing impairment at 18–22 months’ adjusted age in extremely low birthweight infants.…”

Impairment of perinatal hypoxia–ischemia to the preterm brainstem

“…The brainstem auditory evoked responses (BAERs), reflect electrophysiological activity of auditory neurons along this pathway. The responses provide important information regarding functional integrity of the brainstem in clinical problems that affect the brainstem auditory pathway, including perinatal HI [21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28]. In experimental animals with HI, BAER has been successfully used to assess neuroprotective effects of hypothermia on hypoxic-ischemic brain damage [29][30][31].…”

Depressed brainstem auditory electrophysiology in preterm infants after perinatal hypoxia–ischaemia

“…The brainstem auditory evoked responses (BAERs) reflect electrophysiological activity of large numbers of auditory neurons at various orders in the brainstem in response to acoustic stimulation [8][9][10]. In addition to being widely used for newborn hearing testing and screening, the BAER has also been used to study and diagnose central auditory impairment and brain damage in clinical problems that affect the brainstem auditory pathway [8][9][10][11][12][13]. Recent studies further show that the BAER is a reliable test to detect and diagnose auditory neuropathy in high risk neonates because of high sensitivity and specificity [14].…”