Acoustic Immittance in children without otoacoustic emissions

Ana Emilia Linares,Renata Mota Mamede Carvallo

doi:10.1016/s1808-8694(15)30576-0

Ana Emilia Linares, Renata Mota Mamede Carvallo

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1016/s1808-8694(15)30576-0

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Abstract

SummaryConsidering the hypothesis that middle ear changes can impair the recording of otoacoustic emissions, it is possible that absent otoacoustic emissions in infants could be associated with a light tympanometric change.AimTo study the association between transient otoacoustic emissions and changes in acoustic immittance measurements with 226Hz probe tone in neonates.MethodsCross-sectional contemporary cohort study. 20 infants with no transient otoacoustic emissions (study group) and 101 infants with transient otoacoustic emissions (control group), with ages ranged from birth to eight months, were assessed. Infants were submitted to: admittance tympanometry; contralateral acoustic reflex threshold with stimulus of 0.5, 1, 2, 4 kHz and broad band noise; transient and distortion product otoacoustic emissions. The auditory brain response was used to study the threshold in neonates without transient otoacoustic emissions.ResultsSignificant statistical differences were observed between the groups (p < 0.005), characterized by reduction in tympanometric configuration and increase acoustic reflex thresholds in the study group. These data suggest the occurrence of middle ear mild impairment in infants without transient otoacoustic emissions associated with normal auditory brain response.Conclusiontympanometry associated with acoustic reflex adds accuracy to the diagnosis of middle ear abnormalities.

Highlights

In order to properly capture otoacoustic emissions (OAE), it is necessary to have a healthy and intact middle ear and no wax or amniotic liquid residues in the external acoustic meatus
TEOAEs present determined the inclusion of infants from the Comparison Group and the absence of TEOAEs selected the infants included in the Research Group
Following we present the results from the comparative analysis between Groups, first for TOAE measures (Table 1), DPOAE (Table 2) and, afterwards, Table 1

Summary

Introduction

In order to properly capture otoacoustic emissions (OAE), it is necessary to have a healthy and intact middle ear and no wax or amniotic liquid residues in the external acoustic meatus. The frequent use of OAEs as audiological investigation tool in infants has fostered even further the interest in infant tympanometry. Both tympanometry and the investigation of acoustic reflexes make up the procedures for acoustic immitance. The contralateral acoustic reflex study helps us check the middle year all the way to the superior olivary complex. Studies with the 1000Hz probe in neonates proved to be efficient in detecting middle ear alterations.[3,4,5]

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