What are the expected abnormalities in Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials (BAEP)?

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Last updated: May 25, 2025 • View editorial policy

From the Research

Abnormalities in Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials (BAEP) are expected to include prolonged interpeak latencies, wave absence, and decreased amplitude, which can result from various conditions including acoustic neuromas, multiple sclerosis, brainstem strokes, or traumatic brain injuries, as supported by the most recent study 1. The specific pattern of abnormality often helps localize the lesion, with prolonged I-III interpeak latency suggesting a lesion in the caudal brainstem, and III-V prolongation indicating rostral brainstem pathology. Key abnormalities include:

  • Prolonged interpeak latencies, particularly between waves I-III, III-V, or I-V
  • Wave absence, especially of waves III or V
  • Decreased amplitude of waves, particularly wave V
  • Interaural latency differences exceeding 0.3-0.4 ms between corresponding waves on opposite sides, suggesting asymmetric pathology. These abnormalities can be used to evaluate brainstem function and predict disability in conditions such as multiple sclerosis, as shown in the study 1. BAEP abnormalities should be interpreted in the clinical context, considering technical factors like improper electrode placement or inadequate stimulus intensity, which can also affect results, as noted in the study 2. Serial BAEP testing may be valuable for monitoring disease progression or treatment response in conditions affecting the auditory pathway, as suggested by the study 1.

References

Research

Brainstem auditory evoked potentials.

Journal of clinical neurophysiology : official publication of the American Electroencephalographic Society, 1994

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