Introduction: Auditory function involves auditory discrimination and noise comprehension skills, important in the critical period of maturation and plasticity of Central Auditory Nervous System for the overall development of the child. Cortical auditory evoked potential with speech stimulus gives us important information about the functioning and maturation of the central auditory pathway.

Objective: To study the development of auditory function in infants and children based on the analysis of Cortical Auditory Evoked Potential measures.

Method: Fifteen children aged 3 months to 8 years of both genders participated in the study, 10 without hearing complaints (G1) and 5 with recurrent episodes of hearing infections (G2). The exam was investigated using the speech ba/ - /da/ with random stimulus at a 20% proportion of non-standard stimuli of a total of 100 stimuli, identifying and analyzing the complex P1-N1-P2-N2-P3.

Results: For G1 the mean latency values were: RIGHT EAR P1 = 90.14ms; N1 = 125.53ms; P2 = 217.67ms; N2 = 229.55ms and LEFT EAR P1 = 99.16ms; N1 = 128.52ms; P2 = 203.26ms; N2 = 257.22 ms. For G2 group, mean values of latency were: RIGHT EAR P1 = 110,09ms; N1= 147.57ms; P2 = 220.61ms; N2 = 237.10ms; LEFT EAR P1 = 87.71ms; N1= 118.25ms; P2= 211.94ms; N2= 255.66ms. P1 measurement was the best morphology measure for all ages with 100% detectability. There was no statistical difference between groups G1 and G2.

Conclusion: The measurements allowed the investigation of the development of central auditory function in infants and children.