Sensory evoked potentials in inhalant (volatile solvent) abuse.

A study was made to determine whether children with a significant history of inhalant abuse but who lack clinical evidence of neurological abnormality have abnormal visual, auditory or somatosensory evoked potentials. Visual, auditory and somatosensory evoked potential studies were obtained from 15 such children aged 9-17 years. Eight of the children had abnormal visual or auditory evoked potentials. Somatosensory evoked potentials were normal in all. It was concluded that evoked potentials may serve as an objective marker of early neurological damage in children who abuse inhalants and demonstrate potential usefulness for counselling and intervention.