Use of evoked potentials in child neurology
Evoked potentials are the brain’s response to repetitive stimulation of specific neural pathways. The goal of this study is to
describe the use of evoked potentials of short latency in child neurology and to present our experience with the investigation of auditory
(AEP), visual (VEP) and somatosensory (SSEP) evoked potentials. We have been using AEP since 2000 for objective audiometry
and diagnosis of peripheral and central hearing defects. AEP can also be used in the diagnosis of acoustic neuromas, cerebellarpontine
angle tumors, stroke, neurometabolic and neurodegenerative disorders and well as in the differential diagnosis of coma. We
have been utilizing VEP since 2002 for diagnosis of neuro-ophthalmologic disorders in high-risk children and children with cerebral
palsy or psychomotor retardation, and for diagnosis and follow up of demyelinating diseases and West syndrome. VEP is also used
in the diagnosis and follow up of epilepsy, headache, neurocutaneous diseases, and neurometabolic and neurodegenerative disorders.
We have used SSEP over the last year in high-risk children and children with cerebral palsy or myoclonic epilepsy. SEEP is used in
the diagnosis of cerebrovascular diseases, epilepsy, neurodegenerative disorders, in the differential diagnosis of brain death, and in
monitoring functional integrity of neural structures during surgery. In our experience, evoked potentials are useful for early diagnosis
of visual and auditory deficits, for differentiating high-risk children with probable periventricular defects, and for diagnosis and
follow up of demyelinating diseases and West syndrome. Early diagnosis indicates early rehabilitation.
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