A combined neonatal hearing screening protocol

Objective: To analyze a neonatal hearing screening protocol with transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (OAE) and auditory brainstem response (ABR).

Methods: We studied 1,532 newborns with a protocol using transient evoked otoacoustic emissions and auditory brainstem response. We also evaluated auditory development until twelve months of age with quarterly questionnaires.

Results: A total of 1,485 (97 %) newborns had normal OAE, 185 (12 %) were referred for ABR exploration and only 11 (0.7 %) were referred to the otorhinolaryngology service for auditory study and diagnosis. Four neonates had auditory disjunction. No false negatives were detected in the follow-up.

Conclusions: This hearing screening protocol with OEA and ABR is useful for detecting hearing loss in neonates. The prevalence of hearing loss in this study was 2.6 % of live newborns.