Transient and distortion product evoked otoacoustic emissions in premature infants

Abstract

Introduction: The correlation between the transient (TEOE) and distortion product (DPOAE) evoked otoacoustic emissions may be useful for the neonatal auditory screening, mainly in premature infants, who have risk indicators for hearing deficiency. There is need for deepening the knowledge regarding this population cochlea features. Objective: To compare the TEOE and DPOAE in premature infants. To analyze the reproducibility in the TEOE, the amplitude and the sign/noise ratio in the TEOE and DPOAE. Method: TEOE and DPOAE were carried out in 50 premature infants. The tests were correlated as for the criterion "pass/failure" and compared according to amplitude and sign/noise ratio parameters. Results: The TEOE were present in 71% of the sample. The frequency of 3kHz presented a better performance in the average reproducibility, amplitude and sign/noise ratio. The DPOAE were present in 97% of the sample. The frequency of 2kHz had a major average amplitude, the values of the sign/noise ratio increased proportionally in the high frequencies. There was a strong correlation between TEOE and DPOAE in the "pass/failure" criterion (p=0.006). Conclusion: The correlation between the TEOE and DPOAE results was significant. But one method compliments the other and both may be used in the TAN.

Keywords

• Neurosensorial hearing loss
• Neonatal intensive care units