Hearing Assessment in the Newborn Infant

Abstract

The recognition of the significant incidence of hearing loss in the newborn has resulted in the development of universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) programs. The technologies utilized for UNHS include evoked otoacoustic emission (OAE) and automated auditory brain stem response (AABR). These screening technologies are noninvasive, easy to perform, relatively inexpensive, and portable. Once a hearing deficit is detected using these screening tools, the patient should be referred to an audiologist for further evaluation. OAE and/or AABR can be used to identify hearing loss in microtia, Down syndrome, Waardenburg syndrome, familial hearing loss, other genetic abnormalities, or hearing loss due to mechanical interference.