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[Influence of childhood obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome on hearing]

Yaodong Xu1, Xiaozheng He, Qian Cai

  • 1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, 2nd Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China.

Lin Chuang Er Bi Yan Hou Tou Jing Wai Ke Za Zhi = Journal of Clinical Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery
|August 30, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Hypoxemia in childhood obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) can affect hearing. Auditory brainstem response and otoacoustic emissions can detect early auditory damage in children with OSAHS.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Otolaryngology
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Childhood obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) is associated with intermittent hypoxemia.
  • Hearing impairment can be a potential consequence of chronic hypoxemia.
  • Early detection of auditory dysfunction is crucial for managing pediatric OSAHS.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of hypoxemia in pediatric OSAHS on auditory function.
  • To determine the correlation between OSAHS severity and hearing abnormalities.
  • To evaluate the utility of Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) and Distortion-Product Otoacoustic Emission (DPOAE) in assessing auditory health in these children.

Main Methods:

  • Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) and Distortion-Product Otoacoustic Emission (DPOAE) tests were performed on children diagnosed with OSAHS and healthy controls.
  • Participants were categorized based on OSAHS severity (mild, moderate, severe).
  • All participants had a type "A" tympanogram, indicating normal middle ear function.

Main Results:

  • Children with moderate to severe OSAHS showed delayed wave I latency in ABR compared to controls.
  • Significant differences in DPOAE amplitudes at 6 kHz and 8 kHz were observed in moderate to severe OSAHS groups.
  • Mild OSAHS cases showed reduced DPOAE amplitudes at 8 kHz compared to controls, suggesting early cochlear changes.

Conclusions:

  • Cochlear function is impacted in pediatric OSAHS when the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) is 10 or greater per hour.
  • ABR and DPOAE are effective tools for identifying early auditory function damage in children with OSAHS.
  • These findings highlight the importance of audiological screening in pediatric OSAHS management.
Abstract

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