Related Experiment Videos
Evoked otoacoustic emissions in preterm infants
S W Chuang1, S E Gerber, A R Thornton
1Department of Speech & Hearing Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara 93106.
Insights
Evoked otoacoustic emissions (EOAE) amplitudes are larger in infants than adults. This longitudinal study in preterm infants suggests EOAE spectral properties correlate with post-conceptional age, offering potential clinical utility for assessing infant hearing.
Area of Science:
- Otoacoustic Emissions
- Auditory Neuroscience
- Neonatal Development
Background:
- Kemp's discovery of otoacoustic emissions (OAE) has led to extensive research.
- Evoked otoacoustic emissions (EOAE) are of significant interest for assessing cochlear integrity in neonates.
- EOAE amplitudes are notably larger in infants compared to adults.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the longitudinal development of EOAE in preterm infants.
- To determine how EOAE amplitudes and spectral properties change over time in relation to post-conceptional age.
- To explore the potential clinical utility of EOAE for monitoring hearing development in neonates.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal study design was employed.
- EOAEs were reliably measured in five ears of four preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit.
- Analysis focused on changes in EOAE amplitudes and spectral properties over time.
Main Results:
- EOAE spectral properties demonstrated a relationship with post-conceptional age.
- Longitudinal changes in EOAE characteristics were observed in preterm infants.
- The study identified specific EOAE spectral features potentially linked to developmental stage.
Conclusions:
- EOAE spectral properties may serve as indicators of auditory development in preterm infants.
- These findings suggest EOAE can be a valuable tool for assessing cochlear function in neonates.
- Further research to confirm the validity of these findings is anticipated to enhance clinical applications.
Abstract:
Since Kemp's discovery of the otoacoustic emissions phenomenon [7], much study has been given to understanding the nature of it and its ontogeny. Development of the evoked otoacoustic emissions (EOAE) has spurred much interest because they may used as a valid and relatively quick test to assess cochlear integrity in the very youngest patients. One thing that has been learned is that EOAE amplitudes are much larger in normal ears of infants than in normal ears of adults. We asked about the form of this development in a longitudinal, rather than cross-sectional, study in an investigation on children born before 40 weeks postconceptional age. We were able to examine reliably five ears of four preterm babies while they remained in the neonatal intensive care unit. The EOAEs of these ears were then studied to determine whether and how they changed over time. To do this, we examined both their amplitudes and their spectral properties. It turned out that there are properties of the EOAE spectrum that may be related to post-conceptional age. These are described herein. These findings are expected to have considerable clinical utility as more and more researchers are able to confirm their validity.