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The effect of very low birth weight on otoacoustic emissions
S G Korres1, D G Balatsouras, E Gkoritsa
1ENT Department of Athens National University, Hippokration Hospital, Athens, Greece.
Unlabelled:
The effect of very low birth weight on otoacoustic emissions.
Objectives:
The aim of this study was to examine the effect of very low birth weight (VLBW) on the measurement of transiently evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs) in newborns.
Methods:
TEOAEs were recorded in all VLBW newborns (birth weight < 1500 g) who were admitted in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of the Iaso Maternity Hospital, during a period of 1 year. Twenty-four VLBW newborns were included in the study. Their mean birth weight was 1283 g and they had mean gestational age 31.3 weeks. Forty full-term newborns with absence of any risk factor for hearing impairment were used as controls.
Results:
TEOAEs were present in 97.5% of controls, but only in 79.2% of the VLBW group. Statistically significant differences were found between VLBW newborns and controls in most TEOAE measures.
Conclusions:
Increased rate of initial 'fail' in hearing screening, in conjunction with statistically confirmed lower TEOAE measures in VLBW newborns, justifies special care and long term follow-up for this group of newborns.
