Effects of neuro-maturation on auditory-evoked potentials

The development of the auditory evoked potentials, in general, reveals a sequential, caudorostral progression. However, it is important to realize that some development of these potentials occurs simultaneously, and that some instances of rostracaudal maturation occur as well. The development of the auditory evoked potentials has many relationships to maturational changes in the morphology and physiology of the central nervous system. Although these maturational relationships do not completely explain brain development and the chronology of the auditory response, they are critical components of the clinician's fund of knowledge necessary for pediatric auditory evaluation. The aim of this overview has been to link basic anatomical entities with clinical findings related to maturation in an effort to understand the development of auditory evoked potentials better.