Modeling transient otoacoustic emissions in children with hearing impairment

Abstract

Due to the importance of hearing in the development of speech, language, communication and learning, the early detection of disorders associated to the auditory pathway is essential to reduce their negative impact in the long term. Among the techniques for auditory evaluation are Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) and Auditory Brainstem Response. Both of them allow the fast, objective and non-invasive study of the integrity of the ear canal, which is essential in neonatology testing. The OAE is a simpler and easier tool to use, but it is very sensitive to noise and statistical processing is necessary for a reliable diagnosis. In this paper we propose a model for simulating OAE signals from both healthy and hearing impaired children, with the objective of creating a reliable database for a thorough assessment of OAE detection methods. We present a preliminary evaluation of the model with classical methods and with other methodologies based on time-frequency analysis.