Evoked Potentials in Pediatric Age

Introduction to Evoked Potentials in Pediatrics

Evoked potentials (EPs) are electrical signals generated by the nervous system in response to specific stimuli. In pediatric neurology, EPs play a crucial role in assessing the functional integrity of sensory pathways and diagnosing various neurological disorders.

Key Points:

  • Definition: EPs are minute electrical potentials recorded from the nervous system following presentation of a stimulus.
  • Importance in Pediatrics: EPs provide objective and quantifiable data about neurological function, especially valuable in infants and young children who cannot communicate symptoms effectively.
  • Non-invasive Nature: EP studies are painless and do not require sedation in most cases, making them ideal for pediatric patients.
  • Developmental Considerations: Normal EP values change with age due to ongoing myelination and maturation of the nervous system.

Historical Context:

The use of EPs in clinical practice began in the 1970s, with significant advancements in technology and methodology over the past decades. In pediatrics, EPs have become an indispensable tool for early detection and monitoring of neurological disorders.



Evoked Potentials in Pediatric Age
  1. Question: What are the three main types of evoked potentials used in pediatric neurology? Answer: Visual evoked potentials (VEP), auditory evoked potentials (AEP), and somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP)
  2. Question: Which evoked potential test is most useful in diagnosing optic neuritis in children? Answer: Visual evoked potentials (VEP)
  3. Question: What is the primary use of brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP) in neonates? Answer: Hearing screening and assessment of brainstem function
  4. Question: Which evoked potential test is used to assess the integrity of the dorsal column-medial lemniscus pathway? Answer: Somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP)
  5. Question: What is the significance of prolonged P100 latency in visual evoked potentials? Answer: Suggests demyelination of the optic nerve
  6. Question: Which evoked potential test is most useful in diagnosing acoustic neuroma in children? Answer: Auditory brainstem response (ABR)
  7. Question: What is the primary advantage of using evoked potentials in pediatric patients? Answer: Non-invasive assessment of sensory pathways and neural function
  8. Question: Which evoked potential test is used to assess cortical responses to auditory stimuli? Answer: Cortical auditory evoked potentials (CAEP)
  9. Question: What is the significance of absent waveforms in somatosensory evoked potentials? Answer: Suggests severe dysfunction or interruption of the sensory pathway
  10. Question: Which evoked potential test is most useful in assessing myelination in infants? Answer: Visual evoked potentials (VEP)
  11. Question: What is the primary use of motor evoked potentials (MEP) in pediatric patients? Answer: Assessment of motor pathway integrity and monitoring during spinal surgery
  12. Question: Which evoked potential test is used to assess retinal function in children? Answer: Electroretinogram (ERG)
  13. Question: What is the significance of prolonged interpeak latencies in brainstem auditory evoked potentials? Answer: Suggests brainstem dysfunction or demyelination
  14. Question: Which evoked potential test is most useful in diagnosing peripheral neuropathy in children? Answer: Somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP)
  15. Question: What is the primary use of steady-state visual evoked potentials (SSVEP) in pediatric patients? Answer: Assessment of visual acuity and brain-computer interfaces
  16. Question: Which evoked potential test is used to assess cochlear function in children? Answer: Otoacoustic emissions (OAE)
  17. Question: What is the significance of giant somatosensory evoked potentials? Answer: Associated with cortical myoclonus
  18. Question: Which evoked potential test is most useful in diagnosing multiple sclerosis in children? Answer: Visual evoked potentials (VEP)
  19. Question: What is the primary use of cognitive event-related potentials (ERP) in pediatric patients? Answer: Assessment of cognitive processing and attention
  20. Question: Which evoked potential test is used to assess vestibular function in children? Answer: Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMP)
  21. Question: What is the significance of prolonged central conduction time in somatosensory evoked potentials? Answer: Suggests central nervous system dysfunction or demyelination
  22. Question: Which evoked potential test is most useful in assessing brainstem function in comatose children? Answer: Brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP)
  23. Question: What is the primary use of pattern electroretinogram (PERG) in pediatric patients? Answer: Assessment of retinal ganglion cell function
  24. Question: Which evoked potential test is used to assess pain pathways in children? Answer: Laser evoked potentials (LEP)
  25. Question: What is the significance of absent otoacoustic emissions in newborn hearing screening? Answer: Suggests possible hearing loss or auditory dysfunction
  26. Question: Which evoked potential test is most useful in diagnosing cortical blindness in children? Answer: Visual evoked potentials (VEP)
  27. Question: What is the primary use of middle latency auditory evoked potentials (MLAEP) in pediatric patients? Answer: Assessment of auditory processing and monitoring depth of anesthesia
  28. Question: Which evoked potential test is used to assess spinal cord function during scoliosis surgery in children? Answer: Somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP) and motor evoked potentials (MEP)
  29. Question: What is the significance of normal evoked potentials in a child with neurological symptoms? Answer: Suggests that the underlying pathology may not involve the tested sensory pathways
  30. Question: Which evoked potential test is most useful in assessing visual development in premature infants? Answer: Flash visual evoked potentials (FVEP)
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