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[Evoked oto-acoustic emissions (EOE) as screening method in infants]
E Molini1, C Simoncelli, G Ricci
1Universitäts-HNO-Klinik Perugia, Italien.
Insights
Delayed cochlear otoacoustic emissions (EOE) effectively screen for paediatric hearing loss in high-risk infants. This reliable method quickly identifies children with normal hearing versus those needing further audiological evaluation.
Area of Science:
- Paediatric audiology
- Neonatal hearing screening
- Otoacoustic emissions
Context:
- Early diagnosis of paediatric hypoacusis is crucial for development.
- High-risk infants require reliable and efficient screening methods.
- Traditional screening methods may have limitations in accuracy and scope.
Purpose:
- To evaluate the efficacy of delayed cochlear otoacoustic emissions (EOE) and brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BEAPs) for early paediatric hearing loss diagnosis.
- To compare EOE with other audiological screening techniques.
- To assess the reliability and practicality of EOE in a clinical setting.
Summary:
- A study screened twenty high-risk children using EOE and BEAPs, identifying two with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss.
- EOE were present in normal-hearing children and absent in those with hearing loss.
- EOE testing is a rapid, reliable method for differentiating normal hearing from hypoacusis, though it cannot specify the type or location of hearing loss.
Impact:
- EOE provides a valuable, accessible tool for early identification of potential hearing impairments in infants.
- This screening method aids in timely intervention, potentially improving developmental outcomes.
- EOE complements other diagnostic tools, offering a practical first step in paediatric audiological assessment.
Abstract:
The authors consider the problems of the early diagnosis of paediatric hypoacusis, presenting a study done on twenty audiological high risk children that were subjected to audiometric screening by delayed cochlear otoacoustic emissions (EOE) and brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BEAPs). Eighteen of twenty children that were examined were normal, while two had bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. EOE were evoked in all patients that presented normal BAEP thresholds, while they were absent in deaf subjects. Evoked otoacoustic emissions research allows us to identify two groups of subjects: those with normal EOE who can be considered normal hearing subjects, and those without EOE who may present a disturbed auditory system. Nevertheless, EOE testing does not allow us to judge the type of hearing loss. The time for EOE testing is approximately five minutes for each subject. On the grounds of their experience, the authors conclude that EOE testing represents a useful and reliable test which differentiates normal auditory function subjects from hypoacoustic ones. Compared to other techniques used in audiological paediatric diagnosis, such as reactometry, BOEL test and Crib. O. Gram, which present the possibility of false positive and false negative results, and BSERA, which even if reliable, must be limited to few selected audiological high-risk subjects, EOE is easy to implement and readily available. Major limitations of this technique seem to be the possibility of false positives, and the impossibility to specify localisation and type of the hearing loss by EOE only.