[A combined neonatal hearing screening protocol].
OBJECTIVE
To analyze a neonatal hearing screening protocol with transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (OAE) and auditory brainstem response (ABR).


METHODS
We studied 1,532 newborns with a protocol using transient evoked otoacoustic emissions and auditory brainstem response. We also evaluated auditory development until twelve months of age with quarterly questionnaires.


RESULTS
A total of 1,485 (97 %) newborns had normal OAE, 185 (12 %) were referred for ABR exploration and only 11 (0.7 %) were referred to the otorhinolaryngology service for auditory study and diagnosis. Four neonates had auditory disjunction. No false negatives were detected in the follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
This hearing screening protocol with OEA and ABR is useful for detecting hearing loss in neonates. The prevalence of hearing loss in this study was 2.6 % of live newborns.
Otorrinolaringología, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, España. almenar@wanadoo.es
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Almenar Latorre
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Tapia Toca
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Fernández Pérez
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Moro Serrano
D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D015997:Neonatal Screening / Q000379:methods*; D017084:Otoacoustic Emissions, Spontaneous / Q000502:physiology