Hearing evaluation by auditory evoked response in neonates with brain injury

Neonates with brain injury constitute a large group of patients, with an increasing number of cases each year. They have mild to severe impairments in motor, visual, auditory, and cognitive functions. In developing countries, hearing loss is present in 1 to 3 per 1000 normal newborns, but it increases to 2 to 4 per 100 in infant intensive care units.Hearing loss can hinder the development of speech, language skills, and the capacity for social integration. Severe and moderate hearing loss may not be identified until the second year of life, whereas mild hearing loss may not be detected until school years. After the first year of life, the sensible epochs for language acquisition have elapsed. Therefore, the early detection of damage and not its sequelae is the goal in this type of infants, and it can only be achieved with early diagnostic methods. The American Academy of Pediatrics promotes the goal of universal hearing loss detection before 3 months of age and an appropriate intervention no later than 6 months of age.