[Auditory screening of neonates using an objective method--otoacoustic emissions]

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.