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Spontaneous and evoked otoacoustic emissions in pre-term and full-term neonates: is there a clinical application?
Insights
Early hearing loss detection in neonates is crucial for development. Otoacoustic emission testing is a viable screening method for newborns, even premature infants, from 30 weeks of age.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal audiology
- Developmental pediatrics
- Otoacoustic emissions
Background:
- Hearing impairment in infants can hinder language and cognitive development.
- Premature neonates are at higher risk for early-onset hearing loss.
- Early detection of hearing deficits is critical for timely intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of otoacoustic emissions for auditory screening in neonates.
- To determine the feasibility of using evoked otoacoustic emissions (EOAEs) and spontaneous otoacoustic emissions (SOAEs) in neonatal intensive care units.
- To establish the earliest conceptional age for reliable EOAE and SOAE recording.
Main Methods:
- Recording of evoked otoacoustic emissions (EOAEs) and spontaneous otoacoustic emissions (SOAEs).
- Study conducted on 93 pre-term and full-term neonates.
- Analysis of SOAE prevalence, ear laterality, and association with EOAE findings.
Main Results:
- EOAEs and SOAEs can be reliably recorded from 30 weeks of conceptional age.
- SOAEs were more prevalent in female infants and showed higher peak numbers in the right ear.
- Higher incidence of SOAEs was observed in ears with positive and robust EOAEs.
Conclusions:
- Otoacoustic emission testing is a promising tool for neonatal auditory screening.
- The technique is applicable to both pre-term and full-term neonates from 30 weeks of conceptional age.
- SOAE characteristics may provide additional information regarding auditory system function in neonates.
Abstract:
In neonates and infants, hearing impairment leads to impaired language and cognitive development. For that reason, early detection of this sensory deficit is of outstanding importance, particularly in pre-term neonates, who constitute a high risk population in regard to very early acquired hearing loss. Evoked (EOAE) and spontaneous otoacoustic emission (SOAE) recording in 93 pre-term and full-term neonates revealed that this technique is potentially useful for auditory screening in neonatology units. EOAEs and SOAEs can be recorded successfully from 30 weeks of conceptional age. SOAEs were found to be prevalent in females and presented higher peak numbers in right than in left ears. Furthermore, SOAE incidence in pre-term and full-term neonates was found to be high in EOAE positive ears, associated with strong and robust EOAEs.