Neonatal auditory function and depressed Apgar score: Correlation of brainstem auditory response with Apgar score

Abstract Aim: To examine the relationship between neonatal auditory function and Apgar score in term infants with depressed Apgar scores. Methods: Brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER) was recorded on day 3 after birth in term infants who had Apgar scores7 at 1 and/or 5 min. Half of the infants also had Apgar scores at 10 min, with 177. Results: No BAER variables correlated significantly with 1‐min Apgar score. However, wave III and V latencies, and I–V, I–III and III–V intervals correlated significantly and negatively with 5‐min Apgar score (p<0.05–0.01). These BAER variables were significantly longer in infants with 5‐min Apgar scores7 than those >7. Wave V latency and all intervals also correlated negatively with 10‐min Apgar score (p<0.05–0.01). Compared to normal controls, all latencies were prolonged in infants with depressed Apgar scores (all p<0.05–0.01). All intervals were also prolonged in those with 5‐min scores 7 (p<0.05–0.01). Similar results were found when defining the depression of Apgar score as 6. Conclusion: A depressed 5‐ and/or 10‐min Apgar score is an indicator associated with neonatal auditory, mainly central, impairment. Apgar score 7 or 6 at 1 min alone is unlikely to be associated with central impairment.