Combined TEOAE and AABR Screening in High-Risk Newborns

TAO Fang-ying; GONG Zheng-peng

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1672-2922.2013.02.016

Abstract： Objective To investigate the clinical value of combined use of TEOAE and AABR testing in hearing screen-ing in high-risk newborns in NICU. Methods Two hundred high-risk newborns (400 ears) in the NICU received TEOAE/AABR screening with an AccuScreen. At least one ear failed initial TEOAE screening in 100 children (Group A), while both ears passed initial TEOAE screening in the rest 100 children (Group B). At repeat screening at 3rd month of age, those failing again were subjected to ABR and audiology test battery at 6th month of age.Result In Group A, 12 children (22 ears) failed TEOAE and 2 (2 ears) failed AABR at 3rd month, and a total of 12 children (22 ears) failed combined TEOAE/AABR screen-ing. Of these children, 1 (2 ears) was diagnosed with secretory otitis media at 6th month of age. Both ears in this patient failed TEOAE but passed AABR at all three screening time points. Incidence of hearing impairment was 0.5%(1/100) in this group. In Group B, 2 children (2 ears) failed TEOAE and 5 (5 ears) failed AABR screening at 3rd month, with a total of 5 children (5 ears) failing the combined TEOAE/AABR screening. Two children (2 ears) in this group were diagnosed with auditory neuropa-thy at 6th month of age. Both ears failed AABR but passed TEOAE at all three screening time points. Incidence of hearing im-pairment was 2% (2/100) in this group. Some patients were lost to follow up in both groups. Conclusion Combined use of TEOAE and AABR can effectively detect hearing impairment caused by middle ear, cochlear or retrocochlear disorders. Their complementary use can improve the accuracy of hearing screening, and reduce the chance of misdiagnose or missed diagnose.