Auditory brainstem responses in autistic children in comparison with normal children

One of the most important problems of children who suffer from autism is abnormality in receiving and integrating sensory inputs, especially hearing input. It has been shown that brainstem has a key role in receiving, encoding and integrating hearing input. Auditory brainstem response (ABR) is a tool by which we can evaluate this function. The purpose of this study was to assess and to compare autistic and normal children brainstem hearing function.

This case-control study was conducted on thirty (58 ears) autistic and thirty (57 ears) normal 6-12 years old children. The children with autism were divided into slight and severe subgroups according to Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised questionnaire. Click-evoked ABR was recorded and compared between groups.

There was significant difference between two groups V and III wave latencies and I-III and I-V interpeak latencies (p<0.05). In fact, comparison of the results of autism subgroups with normal children indicated that the latencies of the severe subgroup significantly prolonged.

Increasing latencies of ABR waves in severe subgroup maybe due to abnormality in low level of brainstem. Brainstem abnormality may result in exacerbating the symptom of autism. It is therefore suggested that ABR is included in diagnostic test batteries for these patients.