Auditory brainstem response findings in autism spectrum disorder speech delay population

Objectives

Evaluate pediatric auditory brainstem response (ABR) findings in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) after the 2013 DSM-5 update.

Study design

This was an IRB-approved, six-year retrospective chart review evaluating ABR results from pediatric patients with speech delay. Diagnosis of ASD and other neurodevelopmental abnormalities were collected for patient stratification.

Methods

From 2017 to 2023, 148 pediatric patients with speech delay were identified through diagnosis of speech delay and underwent ABR testing. Patients were then separated into two groups: Neurotypical (N = 79) and ASD (N = 69). ABR results were obtained through chart review and waveform and interpeak latency (IPL) results were recorded. Differences in waveform and IPL results were determined via Pearson's chi-square test, with multivariate analysis accounting for race, sex, and age.

Results

28 patients with ASD (40.6 %) had at least one waveform/IPL prolongation. Analysis showed an increased incidence of waveform III (p = 0.028) and IPL III-V (p = 0.03) prolongation in the ASD group compared to their neurotypical counterparts. Waveform III prolongation was noted more in females with ASD (p = 0.001) than in males. No statistically significant difference when comparing race and age was found, except in the 2–3 age range (p = 0.003).

Conclusions

There were higher percentages of prolongation for all waveforms and IPLs in the ASD group versus neurotypical, though not as high as previously reported. Race and age did not appear to be factors in ABR findings though more data is needed to make clinical associations.