Maturation of Cochlea, Auditory Nerve and Brainstem as Observed by Auditory Brainstem Evoked Potentials in Human Infants and Children

Abstract

Myelination of the 8th nerve and Maturation of the brainstem have a direct relationship to the function of hearing and speech development. If disease conditions affect the pathway daring early childhood, damage results in deficit of auditory and speech skills. We have studied this by employing auditory brainstem evoked potentials in 11 children (1 month to 2 years). From 1 month to 6 months, there is no evidence of significant myelination at ABER testing. It becomes clearly evident soon after and it is completed at 2 years of age which is comparable to adult values. The cochlea fully develops at birth as evidenced by wave I latency which is comparable to adult values.