Screening of New Born and Infants for Hearing by OAE

Abstract

The present study was carried out in the department of the otorhinolaryngology at a Secondary health care institute, with the aim of screening of new born (especially high risk) for hearing with OAE (Oto Acoustic Emission test). Loss of impairment of auditory sense is the most prevalent deficit of all sensory organs. Hearing impairment causes a huge impact on one’s social, educational, and economic wellbeing. There are about 5 - 6 infants who have hard of hearing out of 1000 neonates. It was carried out over a period of 15 months (April 21 to July 22) in association with department of Paediatrics. 645 new born and infants were screened by DPOAE (Distortion Product Oto Acoustic Emission) test for congenital hearing impairment. 54 new born infants out of 645 neonates screened showed “refer” in our study. To decrease the burden of morbidity of hearing loss in the society, universal new born hearing screening (UNBHS) policy is the concept to diagnose and treat at the earliest age of affected child, because early detection remains the primary element to decrease the associated morbidity.