Efficacy of auditory evoked potential follow-up in viral meningitis of infants

Purpose To examine the rate of occurrence of hearing impairments among the infants who had recovered from viral meningitis under 1 year of age through auditory evoked potential (AEP) test and to investigate the efficacy of the follow-up AEP test in viral meningitis infants. Methods Two hundred twenty infants (440 ears) were examined through AEP test once, and 47 (94 ears) of them went back for a second examination and were diagnosed with viral meningitis. The first AEP tests were compared with the second results in 47 infants. I latency, V latency, I–III interpeak latency (IPL), and III–V IPL were checked. Results In the first AEP test conducted on 440 ears, the average values of I and V latency and I–III IPL were delayed as compared with normal values. The second AEP results were conducted on 47 infants 92.36 days after the first exam. I latency and V latency of second exam were improved significantly ( p