Prognostic importance of brainstem auditory evoked responses after asphyxia

Brainstem auditory evoked responses were recorded after acute asphyxia in 126 infants, ages birth through 18 months. Of these, 21 had markedly abnormal amplitude ratios, and all infants with abnormal amplitude ratios had severe neurologic handicaps. An abnormal amplitude ratio predicts long-term neurologic sequelae of acute asphyxia in infants. Normal amplitude ratios did not, however, ensure normal neurologic outcome; 10 infants with normal responses were severely handicapped.