Study on the characteristics of auditory in children with autism spectrum disorders

Objective To explore the characteristics of Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) in children with ASD, and analyze their relation with the core symptoms of ASD. Methods Ninty children aged 2-6 with ASD were recruited from Harbin in this study. The data of ABR was collected by using BAEP, and the association among children's absolute latency and interpeak latency of ABR, core symptoms of ASD children's behavior and clinical manifestation was analyzed. Results Compared with the normal average value, children with ASD had longer the absolute latency of wave Ⅰ, Ⅲ, Ⅴ in bilateral ears, which were (1.51±0.20) (3.83±0.34) (5.63±0.23) ms, (1.54±0.16) (3.78±0.23) (5.63±0.22) ms, respectively (P<0.05). Some children's interpeak latency of Ⅰ-Ⅲ, Ⅲ-Ⅴ, Ⅰ-Ⅴ were longer than normal values. Children younger than 3 years old showed prolonged peak intervals of Ⅰ-Ⅲ and Ⅰ-Ⅴ than children in 3-7 years old. The study has also showed that there was positive correlation between the absolute latency of waveⅠin left ear and the social function defect (r=0.45, P<0.05); there was positive correlation between the latency of wave Ⅴin right ear or the latency of waveⅠin left ear or the Ⅰ-Ⅲ peakinterval and non-verbal communication ability dysfunction (r=0.35, 0.39, 0.34, P<0.05); there was positive correlation between the Ⅰ-Ⅲ peak interval and the repeated stereotyped symptoms (r=0.39, 0.35, P<0.05). Conclusion Children with ASD have abnormal auditory behavior. The absolute latency and interpeak latency of ABR is correlated to some parts of core symptoms of ASD.