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[Auditory screening of neonates using an objective method--otoacoustic emissions]
J Jakubikova1, M Zavodna, A Kardosova
1Department of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia. jakubi@gtinet.sk
Insights
Early hearing loss screening in Slovak newborns using otoacoustic emissions (OAE) is crucial. Objective OAE screening can detect hearing loss in at-risk infants earlier than current methods, enabling timely intervention for healthy child development.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Audiology
- Neonatal Care
Context:
- Current non-objective hearing loss screening methods in Slovak children are insufficient, leading to late diagnoses (average 2.5 years).
- Early detection and treatment of bilateral hearing defects before age 1 are vital for healthy child development.
- Objective hearing screening methods are needed for all newborns, especially those at risk.
Purpose:
- To evaluate the necessity and effectiveness of otoacoustic emissions (OAE) screening in newborns in the Slovak Republic.
- To compare the diagnostic capabilities of objective methods (OAE, BERA, tympanometry) with traditional screening approaches.
- To establish the prevalence of hearing loss in at-risk newborns identified through OAE screening.
Summary:
- Preliminary results from screening 456 newborns using otoacoustic emissions (OAE) indicate its necessity for at-risk infants.
- Otoacoustic emissions (OAE) screening identified one case of serious hearing loss confirmed by BERA in 204 at-risk newborns.
- An additional 8 at-risk newborns showed suspected hearing loss based on OAE results and tympanometry, highlighting the limitations of non-objective methods.
Impact:
- Objective otoacoustic emissions (OAE) screening can significantly improve early detection rates of hearing loss in newborns.
- Implementing universal OAE screening can lead to earlier interventions, improving developmental outcomes for children with hearing impairments.
- This study underscores the need to integrate objective audiological assessments into routine neonatal screening protocols in Slovakia.
Abstract:
Screening for hearing loss in children in Slovak republic with non-objective methods detects only deaf children, mean age of the diagnosis establishment is even 2.5 years. It is necessary for healthy child development to detect and treat a child with bilateral defect before 1 year of age. Preliminary results of auditory screening in 456 newborns with objective method of otoacoustic emissions (OAE) proved the necessity of otoacoustic screening in all risk newborns. In one of 204 risk newborns serious hearing loss was proved with BERA examination and in next 8 of them it is suspected according to the OAE results and additional tympanometric examination with the A curve. Until now in newborn without risk of hearing loss in history were not detected bilateral hearing loss, only unilateral, not requiring treatment. (Fig. 1, Tab. 2. Ref. 9.)