Newborn hearing screening: comparison of a simplified otoacoustic emissions device (ILO1088) with the ILO88.
BACKGROUND
The acceptance of universal newborn hearing screening has been affected by the availability of an accurate, cost-effective tool. Transient evoked otoacoustic emission (TEOAE) procedures have been used successfully in hospital-based programs. A modified TEOAE method, using a narrow band signal, may be capable of maintaining accuracy while reducing test time. A comparison between a simplified narrow band TEOAE screening device (ILO1088-Echosensor) and the standard ILO88 Quickscreen mode was initiated in this study.


METHODS
One thousand ears of newborns in a normal nursery were tested using both devices.


RESULTS
Results demonstrated that there was good agreement between the two devices. The possibility that the 5.9% discrepancy between the two screeners may be related to restrictions in the protocol that prohibited calibrating or refitting the probe during the test should be explored.


CONCLUSIONS
The ILO1088 automated screener demonstrated good potential as a quick, accurate hearing screening device for newborns with the potential of reducing screener training and the need for off-line interpretation of the results when employed in a universal program.
Maxon
A B
AB
Communication Services, University of Connecticut, Storrs 06269-1085, USA.
Vohr
B R
BR
White
K R
KR
D005260:Female; D006320:Hearing Tests / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D015997:Neonatal Screening / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results