Auditory Brainstem Response Audiometry in Congenitally Hypothyroid Children Under Early Replacement Therapy

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Abstract
Using auditory brainstem response audiometry, we evaluated 34 congenital hypothyroidism children under thyroid hormone therapy and 24 age- and sex-matched controls between 5 and 12 yr of age. Two main auditory brainstem response abnormalities were encountered: first, prolonged wave I latencies, secondary to a peripheral impairment, were found in seven congenital hypothyroidism children (20%): three of these showed signs of serious otitis media, unilaterally in two and bilaterally in the other, at the time of the evaluation. Second, shortened I-V interpeak latencies were observed in 10 children (29%). No correlation was found between the interpeak latencies and the L-thyroxine serum values at the time of the test or just prior to treatment initiation. Also, there was no correlation with estimated bone age at treatment initiation or with the Griffiths global mental development quotients assessed at 5 yr of age. These preliminary results suggest a significant incidence of auditory brainstem response abnormalities in treated hypothyroid children.