Sound test predicts coma outcome

摘要

A coma patient's chances of waking up could be predicted by changes in the brain's ability to discriminate sounds. Recovery from coma has been linked to auditory function before, but it wasn't clear whether function depended on the time of assessment. Whereas previous studies tested patients several days or weeks after comas set in, a new study looks at the first 48 hours. At this early, critical stage, comatose brains can still distinguish different sound patterns. How this ability changes can predict whether a coma patient will ultimately regain consciousness, researchers report.