Key Challenges and Future Directions When Running Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) Research Protocols with Newborns: A Music and Language EEG Feasibility Study

Although many musical intervention studies exist in the wider framework of neuroscience and psychology, the preliminary importance of feasibility studies is rarely discussed. Adding to this fact the limited research existing on the therapeutic and restorative potential of music exposure during early developmental periods, pushed us to concentrate on investigating newborns’ perception of music and its impact on the brain. Here, we explore the feasibility of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) approach when measuring and comparing the neurophysiological perception of music versus language on the brainstem of newborns using auditory brainstem response (ABR). Twenty-five healthy full-term infants were recruited, eight of which were measured within their first 10 days postpartum. The evaluation of the study’s feasibility appealed to five main objectives that essentially answer the question: Can our protocol work? Each objective proposes questions based on Orsmond and Cohn’s guiding framework, designed to assess, and assist feasibility in understanding barriers toward a study’s success. Our results justify that newborns are well capable of undergoing the study and given meticulous considerations and improvements on the intervention resources. The procedure’s communication and technical obstacles are resoluble. Moreover, assimilation of external factors to adapt, such as the culture variation and the ABR protocol implementation are necessary. The study was well received in the selected region (Middle East), and the recording procedure showed potential outcomes for a comprehensive RCT.

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Auditory Brainstem Response in Preterm Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Otolaryngology ◽

10.1177/0194599820955181 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 019459982095518

Author(s):

Diogo Raposo ◽

João Orfão ◽

Marco Menezes ◽

Mafalda Trindade-Soares ◽

Ana Guimarães ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Intensive Care Unit ◽

Mechanical Ventilation ◽

Intensive Care ◽

Preterm Infants ◽

Auditory Brainstem Response ◽

Neonatal Intensive Care ◽

Auditory Brainstem ◽

Term Infants ◽

Congenital Cytomegalovirus ◽

Brainstem Response

Objective To analyze auditory brainstem response (ABR) findings of preterm and term infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) with perinatal problems. Study Design Case series with chart review. Setting Secondary care hospital. Methods Analysis consisted of a consecutive series of 101 infants (69 preterm and 32 term) admitted in the NICU of Hospital Fernando Fonseca between 2016 and 2018 with perinatal problems who underwent an ABR evaluation. Results The major perinatal problems identified were hyperbilirubinemia, intravenous gentamicin >5 days, mechanical ventilation >5 days, congenital cytomegalovirus infection, meningitis, and periventricular hemorrhage. Gentamicin use significantly increased the absolute latency of wave I in preterm infants (95% CI, 0.01-0.37; P = .037). Mechanical ventilation significantly decreased the latency of wave V and intervals I-V and III-V in preterm infants (95% CI, −0.35 to −0.22; P = .026; 95% CI, −0.33 to −0.00; P = .001; 95% CI, −0.46 to 0.12; P = .049). Congenital cytomegalovirus significantly decreased interval III-V in preterm infants (95% CI, −0.36 to −0.01; P = .042). Multivariate analysis revealed that gentamicin use, lower gestational age, and lower birth weight predicted an increased ABR threshold in preterm infants (95% CI, 1.64-15.31; P = .016; 95% CI −1.72 to −0.09; P = .030; 95% CI, −14.55 to −0.63; P = .033). ABR measurements in term infants were not significantly altered, with the exception of an increased latency of wave III with a lower gestational age (95% CI, −0.49 to −0.01; P = .038). Conclusions These findings suggest that perinatal problems in the NICU significantly impair the ABR threshold and the auditory pathway maturational process in preterm but not term infants.

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Auditory brainstem response in neonates: influence of gender and weight/gestational age ratio

Revista Paulista de Pediatria ◽

10.1590/s0103-05822013000400012 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 31 (4) ◽

pp. 494-500 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Rosanna M. Giaffredo Angrisani ◽

Ana Paula D. Bautzer ◽

Carla Gentile Matas ◽

Marisa Frasson de Azevedo

Keyword(s):

Preterm Infants ◽

Gestational Age ◽

Auditory Brainstem Response ◽

Otoacoustic Emissions ◽

Auditory Brainstem ◽

Term Infants ◽

Age Ratio ◽

Appropriate For Gestational Age ◽

Brainstem Response ◽

Interaural Differences

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of gender and weight/gestational age ratio on the Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) in preterm (PT) and term (T) newborns. METHODS: 176 newborns were evaluated by ABR; 88 were preterm infants - 44 females (22 small and 22 appropriate for gestational age) and 44 males (22 small and 22 appropriate for gestational age). The preterm infants were compared to 88 term infants - 44 females (22 small and 22 appropriate for gestational age) and 44 males (22 small and 22 appropriate for gestational age). All newborns had bilateral presence of transient otoacoustic emissions and type A tympanometry. RESULTS: No interaural differences were found. ABR response did not differentiate newborns regarding weight/gestational age in males and females. Term newborn females showed statistically shorter absolute latencies (except on wave I) than males. This finding did not occur in preterm infants, who had longer latencies than term newborns, regardless of gender. CONCLUSIONS: Gender and gestational age influence term infants' ABR, with lower responses in females. The weight/gestational age ratio did not influence ABR response in either groups.

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