How does cochlear ischemia affect BAEP results?

Cochlear ischemia affects the auditory system by compromising the blood supply to the cochlea, which can lead to the loss of hair cells and overall auditory function. In the context of Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials (BAEP), this compromised function manifests as a complete loss of the initial wave. Wave I represents the action potentials generated by the distal portion of the auditory nerve, which is directly influenced by the health of the cochlea.

When ischemia is present, the loss of neural integrity in this region can result in a failure of wave I to generate, as the necessary stimulation from functioning hair cells is absent. Thus, the absence of wave I in BAEP results is a critical indicator of cochlear ischemia, signifying significant impairment in the transmission of auditory signals from the periphery to the central pathways. This loss provides important diagnostic information in clinical settings, helping to identify conditions that could lead to auditory dysfunction.

Other options may refer to changes in latency or increased delays in wave formation, which are not the primary outcome of cochlear ischemia. In advanced cases, it is possible to see changes in inter-peak latencies or absolute latencies if other parts of the auditory pathway are affected, but the immediate and