Characterization of Mismatch Negativity in children, adolescents and young adults

Purpose  To describe and analyze the latencies and amplitudes of mismatch negativity (MMN) according to ear, sex, and age group in children, adolescents, and young adults.

Methods  This cross-sectional study included participants with normal hearing and typical development of both sexes. The sample comprised 260 children aged 9 to 11 years and 11 months, 110 adolescents aged 12 to 17 years and 11 months, and 110 young adults aged 18 to 29 years and 11 months. All participants underwent peripheral audiological assessment (otoscopy, acoustic immittance measures, pure-tone audiometry, and speech audiometry) and central auditory evaluation (brainstem auditory evoked potentials and mismatch negativity).

Results  A negative correlation was observed between MMN latency and age group, indicating a decrease in latency with increasing age. No significant differences were found in MMN amplitudes across age groups, nor in MMN latencies and amplitudes between ears or sexes.

Conclusion  The latencies and amplitudes of mismatch negativity were characterized in children, adolescents, and young adults. A reduction in MMN latency was observed with increasing age.

Keywords:
Hearing; Evoked potentials; Auditory; Child; Adolescent; Adult