Using Otoacoustic Emissions to Screen Young Children for Hearing Loss in Primary Care Settings

Abstract

WHAT'S KNOWN ON THIS SUBJECT: The incidence of permanent hearing loss doubles between birth and school age. Otoacoustic emissions screening has been used successfully in early childhood educational settings to identify children with losses not found through newborn screening. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS:Using otoacoustic emissions to screen the hearing of young children during routine health care visits is feasible and can lead to the identification of permanent hearing loss overlooked by providers relying solely on subjective methods. abstract OBJECTIVES: Otoacoustic emissions (OAE) technology, used widely in newborn hearing screening programs and validated by professional organizations as a reliable and objective tool, is beginning to be recognized as superior to subjective methods when screening young children in a variety of settings. This study examines the efficacy of integrating OAE hearing screening into services routinely provided in health care settings. METHODS:Three federally funded clinics serving low-income and uninsured people in a metropolitan area participated in the 10-month study. Subjects included 846 children (842 in the target population ,5 years of age and 4 older siblings) who were screened during routine visits to their primary care providers using a distortion product OAE instrument. A multistep screening and diagnostic protocol, incorporating middle ear evaluation and treatment, was followed when children did not pass the initial screening. Audiological evaluation was sought for children not passing a subsequent OAE screening. RESULTS:Of the 846 children screened, 814 (96%) ultimately passed the screening or audiological assessment and 29 (3%) exited the study. Three children (1 was ,5 years of age and 2 were .5) were identified with permanent hearing loss. CONCLUSIONS:The rate of identification of permanent hearing loss in this study is similar to findings from a study of OAE screening in early childhood educational settings. OAE screening holds the potential for being an effective method for helping to identify young children with permanent hearing loss in primary care settings.

Triagem auditiva escolar: identificação de alterações auditivas em crianças do primeiro ano do ensino fundamental

“…Authors who performed the DPOAE in 105 children found that 5.37% presented alterations 28 . DPOAE was also performed in 846 children from another study, in which 96% of the subjects passed the hearing screening 29 , similar to the data found in the present study.…”

Sensorineural hearing loss in patients with head and neck cancer after chemoradiotherapy and radiotherapy: A systematic review of the literature

“…In a number of studies focusing on ototoxicity in children, otoacoustic emissions were applied for monitoring ototoxicity . Currently, otoacoustic emissions are widely used in newborn hearing screening programs and are validated by professional organizations as a reliable and objective tool …”

Evidence for models of diagnostic service provision in the community: literature mapping exercise and focused rapid reviews

“…With the introduction of portable and handheld equipment, tympanometry has become more feasible for a primary care setting. Future proofing of audiology equipment requires provision for otoacoustic emissions technology, initially used for newborn hearing screening but shown to have potential in small children 330 and the aged. Acoustic reflectometry is a technique based on a sonar that enables the diagnosis of middle ear effusion.…”