The effect of very low birth weight on otoacoustic emissions.
The effect of very low birth weight on otoacoustic emissions.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to examine the effect of very low birth weight (VLBW) on the measurement of transiently evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs) in newborns.


METHODS
TEOAEs were recorded in all VLBW newborns (birth weight < 1500 g) who were admitted in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of the Iaso Maternity Hospital, during a period of 1 year. Twenty-four VLBW newborns were included in the study. Their mean birth weight was 1283 g and they had mean gestational age 31.3 weeks. Forty full-term newborns with absence of any risk factor for hearing impairment were used as controls.


RESULTS
TEOAEs were present in 97.5% of controls, but only in 79.2% of the VLBW group. Statistically significant differences were found between VLBW newborns and controls in most TEOAE measures.


CONCLUSIONS
Increased rate of initial 'fail' in hearing screening, in conjunction with statistically confirmed lower TEOAE measures in VLBW newborns, justifies special care and long term follow-up for this group of newborns.
Korres
S G
SG
ENT Department of Athens National University, Hippokration Hospital, Athens, Greece.
Balatsouras
D G
DG
Gkoritsa
E
E
Kandiloros
D
D
Korres
G S
GS
Ferekidis
E
E
D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D015997:Neonatal Screening; D017084:Otoacoustic Emissions, Spontaneous / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results