Abnormalities of the auditory brainstem response in post-meningitic infants and children.

The auditory brainstem response (ABR) was recorded in 86 infants and children from 1 month to 14 years of age following episodes of bacterial or viral meningitis. Thirty-two demonstrated some degree of cochlear impairment. These was a high incidence of neurological sequellae in these children. Eight children exhibited abnormal changes suggestive of brainstem dysfunction. Six of these eight children also had abnormal neurologic examination. Recovery, or at least improvement in the ABR, occurred in six infants who were assessed upon discharge from the hospital, and then again several months post-hospitalization. In each case improvement was attributed to a resolving conductive component. The ABR was found to be effective for identifying hearing impairment and brainstem dysfunction in pediatric patients following central nervous system infection. Objective information, not available from other methods of assessment was obtained.