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New techniques of hearing assessment
W H Martin1, J W Schwegler, A L Gleeson
1Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Insights
This review covers otoacoustic emissions and auditory brain stem responses (ABRs) for infant hearing evaluation. It details their development, clinical uses, and proposes new objective techniques for pediatric auditory assessment.
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Pediatric audiology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Infant hearing screening is crucial for early detection of auditory dysfunction.
- Otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) and auditory brain stem responses (ABRs) are key objective measures.
- Understanding auditory system development in children is vital for accurate diagnosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current literature on OAEs and ABRs in pediatric audiology.
- To describe the development, applications, and interpretation of OAEs and ABRs in infants and children.
- To discuss the need for objective signal quality and threshold detection techniques.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of OAEs and ABRs in pediatric populations.
- Detailed presentation of auditory system development using Lissajous' trajectory studies.
- Inclusion of previously unpublished data on frequency-specific ABRs and a new objective technique.
Main Results:
- OAEs and ABRs demonstrate distinct developmental patterns in infants.
- Frequency-specific ABRs (air and bone conducted) show clinical utility.
- New techniques for objective signal quality estimation in OAEs and ABRs show promise.
Conclusions:
- OAEs and ABRs are essential tools for evaluating peripheral auditory function in children.
- Further development of objective measures is needed for reliable pediatric audiological assessment.
- This review highlights advancements and future directions in infant hearing assessment technology.
Abstract:
This article reviews current literature in the areas of otoacoustic emissions and auditory brain stem responses (ABRs) and their application to the evaluation of peripheral auditory function in infants and children. The different types of otoacoustic emissions are described along with their incidence, development, clinical applications, and interpretation in the pediatric group. The development of the auditory system, reflected by ABRs, is presented in detail with previously unpublished results from three-channel Lissajous' trajectory studies performed in infants. Clinical application of frequency-specific ABRs, both air and bone conducted, are presented. Finally, a discussion of the need to develop objective estimators of signal quality and threshold detection for otoacoustic emissions and ABRs in infants and children is presented, which includes previously unpublished results evaluating a new technique.