Otoacoustic emissions as a screening test for hearing impairment in children

• Published in: Archives of disease in childhood Vol. 72; no. 4; pp. 294 - 297
• Main Authors: Richardson, M P, Williamson, T J, Lenton, S W, Tarlow, M J, Rudd, P T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health 01.04.1995; BMJ; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Adolescent; Auditory system; Auditory Tests; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Child, Preschool; Children; Cochlea; Ear, auditive nerve, cochleovestibular tract, facial nerve: diseases, semeiology; Ears & hearing; Emissions; Feasibility Studies; Hearing Disorders - diagnosis; Hearing Disorders - physiopathology; Hearing loss; Hearing Tests - methods; Humans; Infant; Medical sciences; Non tumoral diseases; Otoacoustic emissions; Otoacoustic Emissions, Spontaneous; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Pediatrics; Predictive Value of Tests; Screening Tests; Sensitivity and Specificity; Sound waves; Human; Electrodiagnosis; Sensitivity; Otoacoustic emission; Auditory disorder; ENT disease; Medical screening; Child; Hearing loss
• ISSN: 0003-9888; 1468-2044
• DOI: 10.1136/adc.72.4.294

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.