The Relationship between Nutritional Status and the Latency Period of Wave V of the BERA in Toddlers with Speech Disorders and Normal Hearing
Abstract
The causes of speech disorders in children are multifactorial, one of which is nutritional status that affects the maturation of the auditory nervous system. Brainstem Evoked Response Audiometry (BERA) examination is used for early detection of speech disorders in children, by assessing the speed of conduction of auditory nerve impulses, and is sensitive to neurological maturation disorders, changes in wave V latency indicate delays in the development of the central auditory pathway. Objective: To determine the relationship between nutritional status and wave V latency of BERA in toddlers with speech disorders and normal hearing. Methods: Retrospective study using medical record data sources on all children with speech disorders and normal hearing at the ENT-BKL Polyclinic of RSUDZA Banda Aceh for the period January 2024-October 2025. Results: There were 60 samples, 17 children with speech disorders and normal hearing experienced malnutrition, 3 children with undernutrition, 27 children with normal nutritional status 6 children with overweight, and 7 children with obesity. Poor nutritional status was dominated by boys, aged 24-35 months, a history of term birth and screen time of 2 hours per day. The latency period of wave V was prolonged in the right ear (7.58 ms ± 0.48 ms) and the left ear (7.43 ms ± 0.4 ms). There was a relationship between nutritional status and the latency period of wave V BERA in AD (p=0.000, r=-0.505) and AS (p=0.001, r=-0.409). Conclusion: Poor nutritional status was associated with prolonged BERA wave V latency among toddlers with speech disorders and normal hearing, suggesting delayed maturation od the auditory pathway.
Keywords: BERA, Latency Period, Nutritional Status, Speech Delay, Wave V
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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.30829/contagion.v8i3.30111
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