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Power reflectance testing in newborns and infants
Ticianna Garambone de Cerqueira Lima1, Helena Maria Gonçalves Becker2, Celso Gonçalves Becker2
1Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
Insights
The power reflectance test effectively identifies middle ear disease in infants, correlating with tympanometry and otoacoustic emissions. Specific frequencies (2000Hz and 3000Hz) are most useful for diagnosing conductive hearing loss.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric audiology
- Otoacoustic emissions
- Middle ear physiology
Background:
- Newborn hearing screening is crucial for early detection of auditory problems.
- Middle ear diseases can complicate accurate auditory diagnosis in infants.
- Power reflectance and tympanometry are key audiological assessment tools.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the efficacy of the power reflectance test in detecting middle ear disease.
- To compare the diagnostic power of power reflectance with tympanometry.
- To identify optimal frequencies for power reflectance in infant audiology.
Main Methods:
- A case study involving 105 newborns and infants undergoing audiology screening.
- Performance of transient otoacoustic emissions, power reflectance, and tympanometry.
- Analysis of test results for specificity and agreement.
Main Results:
- Transient otoacoustic emissions showed high pass rates (approx. 95%).
- Power reflectance specificity ranged from 75.3% to 95.9% across frequencies.
- Tympanometry at 1000Hz demonstrated specificity between 83% and 87.2%.
Conclusions:
- Power reflectance at 2000Hz and 3000Hz correlates well with tympanometry and otoacoustic emissions.
- These frequencies are optimal for diagnosing middle ear disease using power reflectance.
- Elevated power reflectance values indicate middle ear fluid and potential conductive hearing loss.
Introduction:
Auditory screening in newborns allows for detection of hearing problems early in life. However, middle ear diseases can make the diagnosis more difficult.
Objective:
To evaluate the power reflectance test as an indicator of the middle ear disease and to compare it to tympanometry.
Methods:
Case study evaluating 105 newborns and infants who participated in the audiology screening in 2013. The following exams were performed: transient otoacoustic emissions, power reflectance, and tympanometry.
Results:
In the optoacoustic emission evaluation, approximately 95% of the subjects passed the test. The specificity of power reflectance in all frequencies studied ranged from 75.3% to 95.9%, and that of tympanometry at 1000Hz ranged from 83% to 87.2%; there was agreement among these exams.
Conclusion:
The outcome of power reflectance tests at 2000Hz and 3000Hz showed a correlation with tympanometry and otoacoustic emissions, and these were the most appropriate frequencies to determine middle ear disease through power reflectance measurement. It was also observed that values of power reflectance above reference levels suggested the presence of fluid in the middle ear, and thus a conductive hearing loss.
