Evaluation of click-evoked oto-acoustic emissions in the newborn.
Click-evoked oto-acoustic emissions and auditory brainstem responses (ABR) have been recorded in 723 babies taken largely from a neonatal intensive care unit to evaluate the use of oto-acoustic emissions as a method of screening for hearing impairment. Twenty-nine infants failed to pass the initial ABR test and repeat ABR tests carried out up to the age of 3 months. The 'sensitivity' and 'specificity' of the oto-acoustic emission test for the ABR test results up to 3 months of age in surviving infants were 93% and 84% respectively. It is proposed that click-evoked oto-acoustic emissions be considered as the initial method to screen for hearing impairment, test failures being followed up by ABR.
Stevens
J C
JC
Department of Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, UK.
Webb
H D
HD
Hutchinson
J
J
Connell
J
J
Smith
M F
MF
Buffin
J T
JT
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D003051:Cochlea / Q000502:physiology*; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem / Q000502:physiology*; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015997:Neonatal Screening / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity