Use of the distraction hearing test in children with congenital ocular motor apraxia

Five of the 14 children with congenital ocular motor apraxia under Addenbrooke's Hospital Ophthalmology Department were assessed in tertiary audiology clinics. These referrals had been made after the children had failed to pass the 8-month hearing screen and second tier community-based assessment using distraction testing. In all cases they were found to have normal hearing on further assessment. The false positive response with the distraction test is likely to be due to the child's inability to initiate appropriate head and eye movements. We present a case report on a child with congenital ocular motor apraxia (COMA) at tertiary hearing assessment.