According to our findings , auditory event‐related potentials can help to predict neurodevelopmental outcome in preterms .
Both prospect i ve and cross‐sectional studies reported a relationship between AERPs and cognitive outcome .
Our results show that larger amplitudes and shorter latencies of late AERPs are related to better cognitive outcomes .
HIGHLIGHTSPreterm birth is associated with an elevated risk for neurodevelopmental deficits .
Auditory event‐related potentials can be used to assess early cognitive functioning .
This paper represents the first systematic review investigating the predictive power of AERPs on  cognition in preterms .
ABSTRACT Prematurity is a known risk factor for later cognitive deficits .
At present there are neither behavioral nor neurological tests available to detect those preterm infants who would benefit most from early interventions .
Neurophysiologic methods , and more specifically , auditory event‐related potentials ( AERPs ) are convenient tools to investigate early cognitive functioning .
However , the capability of AERPs as a prognostic factor for mental development in preterm infants remains unclear .
Diagnostic and Predictive Value of Auditory Evoked Responses in Preterm Infants: II. Auditory Evoked Responses
In this study , the diagnostic and predictive value of brainstem , middle latency , and cortical auditory evoked responses ( BMC -AERs ) obtained in the neonatal period in 81 preterm infants was assessed in relation to neurodevelopmental outcome .  The preterm infants were neonatally classified according to risk category and gestational age . The  BMC -AERs  were analyzed with respect to detectability , latencies , and amplitudes as well as derived latency and amplitude measures . At 5 y of age the neurodevelopmental outcome was assessed from neurologic and neuropsychologic evaluations . The results showed that BMC -AER differences mainly correlated with risk category ( low risk/high risk ) and to some extent with degree of prematurity . In view of these findings the degree of prematurity and the effect of risk category have to be taken into account , when BMC -AERs are applied in the preterm period to predict neurodevelopmental outcome . In this study the BMC -AERs for infants with abnormal neurodevelopmental outcome were scarcely distinguishable from the BMC -AERs for infants with normal neurodevelopmental outcome . Thus far , this and previous reports have indicated that BMC -AERs in preterm infants are useful in maturational studies and with infants showing symptoms related to lesions or dysfunction of the peripheral and /or central auditory system . For predicting neurodevelopmental outcome in preterm infants , BMC -AERs are of limited clinical value
According to our findings , auditory event‐related potentials can help to predict neurodevelopmental outcome in preterms .
Both prospect i ve and cross‐sectional studies reported a relationship between AERPs and cognitive outcome .
Our results show that larger amplitudes and shorter latencies of late AERPs are related to better cognitive outcomes .
HIGHLIGHTSPreterm birth is associated with an elevated risk for neurodevelopmental deficits .
Auditory event‐related potentials can be used to assess early cognitive functioning .
This paper represents the first systematic review investigating the predictive power of AERPs on  cognition in preterms .
ABSTRACT Prematurity is a known risk factor for later cognitive deficits .
At present there are neither behavioral nor neurological tests available to detect those preterm infants who would benefit most from early interventions .
Neurophysiologic methods , and more specifically , auditory event‐related potentials ( AERPs ) are convenient tools to investigate early cognitive functioning .
However , the capability of AERPs as a prognostic factor for mental development in preterm infants remains unclear .