title: Otoacoustic emissions as a screening test for hearing impairment in children.
abstract: Transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs) are low amplitude sound waves produced by the healthy cochlea. They can be recorded with a microphone in the external ear. TEOAEs are abolished by hearing losses of 30 dB or more. The feasibility of using TEOAEs as a screening test for hearing loss in children was studied. TEOAE recordings were attempted in 56 children attending an audiology clinic. Recordings were possible from both ears in 52 children; of these 104 ears, 32 had hearing deficits of 30 dB or more. Hearing status was compared with the results of six TEOAE screening criteria. All criteria had a sensitivity of 1.00. Four standard TEOAE criteria yielded specificities of 0.46-0.58. Two new criteria derived from analysis of limited frequencies from the TEOAE waveform gave specificities of 0.76 and 0.82. It can be concluded that, when appropriate pass/fail criteria are employed, TEOAEs are a feasible screening test in children.
authors.affiliation: Bath Unit for Research into Paediatrics, Children's Centre, Royal United Hospital.
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Williamson
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Lenton
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Tarlow
authors.forename: P T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Rudd
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006320:Hearing Tests / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D017084:Otoacoustic Emissions, Spontaneous; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity