Hearing Assessment in Infants with Otoacoustic Emission and Auditory Brainstem Response: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

Aim and objective: An attempt was made to find hearing status in all high-risk infants and no risk infants with the help of otoacoustic emission (OAE) and auditory brainstem response (ABR). Materials and methods: A retrospective study of hearing assessments of 330 infants was done with OAE and ABR from August 2019 to February 2020 at tertiary hospital. Various details of all participants such as age, sex, high-risk factors, detailed history of the current disease, maternal history during pregnancy, and complications during delivery were recorded. Results: Among 330 infants, 156 (47.27%) had REFER on first OAE. All 30 infants who had REFER on second OAE had shown hearing impairment on ABR. Hearing loss was seen in three infants (0.90%) without any risk factor. In the present study, risk factors for the hearing impaired infants were NICU stay (39%), low birth weight (33.6%), LSCS (20.6%), preterm delivery (17%), hyperbilirubinemia (8.1%), and delayed cry (7.57%). Statistical analysis performed using the Chi-square test had shown significant association between NICU stay, low birth weight, delayed cry, and hearing loss. Conclusion: Statistical analysis performed using the Chi-square test had shown significant association between NICU stay, low birth weight, delayed cry, and hearing loss. Clinical significance: OAE is good screening tool for newborn and infants.