Otoacoustic Emission Testing Research Articles

Otoacoustic emissions in neonates exposed to smoke during pregnancy

IntroductionThe toxic substances present in cigarette smoke can damage cochlea hair cells. This effect has been investigated by measuring otoacoustic emissions. ObjectiveTo investigate the impact of stimuli on otoacoustic emissions, comparing neonates with and without exposure to cigarette smoke during pregnancy. MethodsTransient-evoked otoacoustic emissions, evoked by a click stimulus, and distortion product otoacoustic emissions, evoked by two tones tests were conducted in both ears, using an Interacoustic TITAN device. The study included 105 neonates divided into two groups: a study group, comprising 47 neonates exposed to smoke during pregnancy; and a control group comprized of 58 neonates who were not exposed. All participants had normal neonatal hearing screening. ResultsNo statistical differences in distortion product otoacoustic emissions response levels were found between the groups. In the transient-evoked otoacoustic emissions tests lower response levels were observed in the study group than the control group in frequency band analysis of the right ear, with statistically significant differences in signals and signal-noise ratio (except at 1kHz). ConclusionThe impact of smoking exposure could be analyzed through transient-evoked otoacoustic emissions in neonates. The group effect of smoke exposure during pregnancy was evidenced by a reduction in transient-evoked otoacoustic emissions levels. This same effect was not observed for the analyses performed on distortion product otoacoustic emissions levels.

Main Aspects of Peripheral and Central Hearing System Involvement in Unexplained HIV-Related Hearing Complaints.

Objective: Hearing abnormalities frequently occur in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infected individuals. Both conductive and uni- or bilateral sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) have been described along with other audiological and vestibular symptoms such as tinnitus, vertigo and balance disturbances. While frequent middle ear infections may explain impairment of peripheral hearing abilities, the exact etiology of cochlear, and central auditory processing deficits still remains unclear. Direct effects of HIV, opportunistic infections, ototoxic side effects of antiretroviral therapy (ART), and immunologic responses to the central nervous system involving the auditory pathway have been proposed. We aim to review the audiological profile in HIV infected adults related to the effects of HIV and HAART on the inner ear structures.Methods: We present a review of the literature on cases of HIV related SNHL in adult patients and studies conducted to investigate audiometric changes in such patients. Data on presentation, diagnosis and pathophysiology were reviewed.Results: Sensorineural hearing loss in the higher frequencies is a common form of hearing loss in HIV infected individuals throughout disease progression, along with decreased otoacoustic emission (OAE) responses, increased PTA hearing thresholds and prolonged latencies for auditory brainstem responses (ABR).Conclusion: HIV affects all stages of auditory perception in a way similar to accelerated aging of the auditory system. And we postulate that synaptic loss may be the first step, followed by cochlear damage and central pathology as the virus remains present in all the structures of the auditory pathway causing local inflammation and degeneration. Evaluation of hearing function among all patients diagnosed with HIV infection seems to be an accepted approach; it should include OAE testing, pure tone and speech audiometry, speech-in-noise tests and ABR measurements.

Evaluation of hearing in patients with rheumatoid arthritis compared with controls

Objective: To demonstrate the effects of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) on hearing with audiometric and tympanometric measurements, and to reveal its relationship with the disease in comparison with healthy volunteers. Methods: The study included 30 RA patients and 30 healthy controls. Demographic findings such as age, height, weight, onset of complaint (year), time elapsed since diagnosis, previous surgery, accompanying systemic disease, drugs used, family history, habits of smoking and alcohol use were questioned for both groups. Tympanometry, pure voice audiometry and otoacoustic Emission tests were performed. Results: The hearing thresholds in the airway conduction in RA group were significantly higher in all frequencies (0.25-6 kHz) than in the control group. When bone conduction hearing thresholds were compared, RA group was more affected at only 4 kHz and left ear (p=0.006). When air-bone conduction differences (AB-gap) were examined, the differences in the RA group at 0.5, 1 and 4 kHz were statistically significant. When tympanometry and acoustic reflex measurement results were evaluated, there was no statistically significant difference between groups. In the transient OAE test, 3 (10 %) patients were in the RA and 2 (6.6 %) patients in the control group (p=0.064). Conclusion: Conductive hearing loss was significantly more frequent in patients with RA than in healthy individuals, whereas bone conduction was affected partially at high frequencies; whereas stapes reflex, compliance and pressure values were not significantly affected.

Longitudinal Development of Wideband Absorbance and Admittance Through Infancy.

Purpose The aim of this article was to study the normal longitudinal development of wideband absorbance and admittance measures through infancy. Method Two hundred one infants who passed the newborn hearing screen (automated auditory brainstem response) were tested at birth and then followed up at approximately 6, 12, and 18 months of age. Most infants were of either White (86%) or Asian (11%) descent. At each test session, infants passed tympanometry and distortion product otoacoustic emission tests. High-frequency (1000-Hz) tympanometry was used at birth and 6 months of age, and low-frequency (226-Hz) tympanometry was used at 12 and 18 months of age. Wideband pressure reflectance was also measured at each session and analyzed in terms of absorbance, admittance at the probe tip, and admittance normalized for differences in ear canal area. Multilevel hierarchical models were fitted to the absorbance and admittance data to investigate for effects of age, ear side, gender, ethnicity, and frequency. Results There were considerable age effects on wideband absorbance and admittance measurements over the first 18 months of life. The most dramatic changes occurred between birth and 6 months of age, and there were significant differences between all age groups in the 3000- to 4000-Hz region. There were significant ethnicity effects that were substantial for certain combinations of ethnicity, age, and frequency (e.g., absorbance at 6000 Hz at 12 months of age). Conclusion There are large developmental effects on wideband absorbance and admittance measures through infancy. For absorbance, we recommend separate reference data be used at birth, 6 months of age, and 12-18 months of age. For admittance (both normalized and at the probe tip), we advise using separate normative regions for each age group (neonates and 6, 12, and 18 months).

Audiovestibular functions in chronic kidney disease in relation to haemodialysis.

Several studies have reported that the audiovestibular system is affected in patients with chronic kidney disease. This study aimed to investigate how the audiovestibular system is affected in patients with various stages of chronic kidney disease. Sixty participants were divided into three groups: group 1 - controls; group 2 - chronic kidney disease patients receiving conservative treatment; and group 3 - chronic kidney disease patients undergoing regular haemodialysis. Assessments included: standard and high-frequency audiometry and otoacoustic emissions testing, oculomotor tests, and combined vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials testing. Fifty per cent of group 2 and 60 per cent of group 3 had bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. High-frequency pure tone audiometry showed reduced detectability and higher thresholds at 12 kHz and 16 kHz in patients than in controls. Otoacoustic emissions, tracking, optokinetic and combined vestibular-evoked myogenic potential tests showed abnormal results in chronic kidney disease cases. Both the auditory and vestibular pathways are affected in different stages of chronic kidney disease. High-frequency pure tone audiometry, otoacoustic emissions and combined vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials could be performed routinely in patients with chronic kidney disease, regardless of the disease stage.

Medial olivocochlear suppression in musicians versus non-musicians.

The medial olivocochlear efferent (MOCE) branch synapses with outer hair cells (OHCs), and the efferent pathway can be activated via a contralateral acoustic stimulus (CAS). The activation of MOCE can change OHC motile responses and convert signals that are capable of controlling the sensitivity of the peripheral hearing system in a frequency-specific manner. The aim of this study was to examine the MOCE system activity in professional musicians using transient evoked otoacoustic emission test and CAS. Musician group showed stronger suppression in all frequency bands in the presence of CAS.

A long-term follow-up study on otoacoustic emissions testing in paediatric patients with severe malaria in Gabon

BackgroundIn a previous study, severe and cerebral malaria have been connected with acute cochlear malfunction in children, demonstrated by a decrease of transitory evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs) reproducibility. This study aims to determine whether cochlear malfunction persists for 4 years after recovery from severe malaria in a subset of the previous study’s collective. Follow-up TEOAEs were performed on site (CERMEL, Hôpital Albert Schweitzer, Lambaréné, Gabon) or at the participants’ homes; 33 out of 90 participants included in the initial investigation by Schmutzhard et al. could be retrieved and were re-examined, 31/33 could be included. Of the 57 missing participants, 51 could not be contacted, 1 had moved away, 4 refused to cooperate, and 1 had died.MethodsAs in the initial investigation, participants of this prospective follow-up study were subjected to TEOAE examination on both ears separately. A wave correlation rate of > 60% on both ears was considered a “pass”; if one ear failed to pass, the examination was considered a “fail”. The results were compared to the primary control group. Additionally, a questionnaire has been applied focusing on subsequent malaria infections between the primary inclusion and follow-up and subjective impairment of hearing and/or understanding.ResultsThe cohort’s mean age was 9 years, 14 children were female, 18 male. 31 had been originally admitted with severe, one with cerebral malaria. 83.8% of participants (n = 26) presented with a TEOAE correlation rate of > 60% on both ears (the cut-off for good cochlear function); in the control group, 92.2% (n = 83) had passed TEOAE examination on both ears. Recurrent severe malaria was associated with a worse TEOAE correlation rate. Age at infection and gender had no influence on the outcome.ConclusionsCochlear malfunction seems to be persistent after 4 years in more than 16% of children hospitalized for malaria. In a healthy control group, this proportion was 7.8%. Yet, the severity of the initial TEOAE-decrease did not predict a worse outcome.

Effects of ganciclovir treatment in a murine model of cytomegalovirus-induced hearing loss.

To determine whether ganciclovir (GCV) treatment reduces sensorineural hearing loss in cytomegalovirus (CMV)-infected mice. The effects of GCV on viral load, absolute neutrophil count (ANC), and outer hair cell (OHC) integrity were also investigated. Infected BALB/c mice were inoculated with murine CMV on postnatal day 3. Those treated with GCV received an intraperitoneal injection twice a day for 14 days. Auditory thresholds were assessed using distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) and auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing 4 weeks after inoculation. Temporal bones were used for determination of viral load by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and hair cell quantification by scanning electron microscopy. ANCs were completed by an automated hematology analyzer, with manual review for confirmation. GCV-treated CMV-infected mice had lower ABR (P < 0.0001, Kruskal-Wallis test) and DPOAE (P < 0.0001) thresholds compared to CMV-infected untreated mice, indicating that GCV protected mice from CMV-induced hearing loss. Viral load in infected populations undergoing GCV treatment was significantly decreased (P = 0.03) relative to untreated mice. GCV treatment alone had no effect on ABR and DPOAE compared to untreated, uninfected controls (P = 0.1, P = 0.24, respectively). GCV-treated mice received increased protection from OHC loss when compared to untreated groups, with total OHC losses of approximately 7% and 14%, respectively (P < 0.05). Neutropenia was absent after 7 days of GCV treatment. Ganciclovir effectively ameliorated SNHL and partially protected from OHC loss in a preclinical model of congenital CMV infection, seemingly by reducing viral load. NA Laryngoscope, 130:1064-1069, 2020.

Effects of Cocarboxylase in Amikacin-Induced Ototoxicity in Immature Animals.

Possible otoprotective properties of cocarboxylase were studied on the model of amikacin-induced ototoxicity in immature rabbits. Auditory function was evaluated by the short-latency auditory brainstem response (ABR) and distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) tests. Administration of cocarboxylase after modeling of amikacin-induced ototoxicity resulted in a decrease in the ABR peak I threshold and prevented damage to the outer hair cells.

Mesenchymal stem cells for sensorineural hearing loss: protocol for a systematic review of preclinical studies

BackgroundSensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is the most common form of hearing impairment and is characterized by a loss of receptor hair cells and/or spiral ganglion neurons. Regenerative stem cell therapy could potentially restore normal hearing and slow the progression of hearing loss in patients. Preclinical animal studies have demonstrated that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) could be a promising new therapy for this condition. These findings have prompted investigators to begin human clinical trials to assess the safety and efficacy of MSCs for the treatment of SNHL. The objective of the proposed systematic review is to examine the efficacy of MSCs as a therapy for SNHL in animal models.MethodsWe will include preclinical animal studies of SNHL in which MSCs are administered, and outcomes are compared against MSC-naïve controls. The primary outcome will include audiologic tests that are routinely used in experimental studies of hearing loss, such as auditory brainstem response (ABR) and distortion product otoacoustic emissions testing (DPOAE). Secondary outcomes will include histology, microscopy, gene protein expression, and behavioral responses of animals. Electronic searches of MEDLINE via PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) will be performed. Search results will be screened independently and in duplicate. Data from eligible studies will be extracted, pooled, and analyzed using random effects models. Risk of bias and publication bias will be assessed using the Systematic Review Center for Laboratory Animal Experimentation (SYRCLE) risk of bias tool and Funnel Plots/Egger’s regression tests, respectively.DiscussionThis systematic review will provide a summary of the efficacy of MSC therapy in animal models of SNHL, utilizing functional hearing assessment as a primary outcome. Findings from this review are important because they can elucidate research gaps that should be addressed in future preclinical studies and in turn can be translated into clinical studies.Systematic review registrationCAMARADES (http://www.dcn.ed.ac.uk/camarades/)

Levosimendan ameliorates cisplatin-induced ototoxicity: Rat model

ObjectivesCisplatin is employed for chemotherapeutic purposes in several types of adult and pediatric cancer. However, side-effects including nephrotoxicity, ototoxicity, gastrointestinal effects and neuropathy restrict the use of the drug due to their adverse impacts on quality of life. This study aimed to determine whether levosimendan exhibits a protective effect against cisplatin-related ototoxicity in a rat model by means of functional, biochemical and histochemical analysis. MethodsThe study was employed with 24 female Sprague Dawley rats. After distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE) tests applied to all rats, rats were randomly assigned into four groups of six animals each. A single intraperitoneal 15 mg/kg dose of cisplatin was administered to Cisplatin group. Levosimendan group received intraperitoneal levosimendan at a dose of 100 mg/kg for five consecutive days. Cisplatin + Levosimendan group received intraperitoneal levosimendan at a dose of 100 mg/kg for five consecutive days and a single intraperitoneal dose of 15 mg/kg cisplatin at 3rd day of the study. Control group received 8 mL/kg/day intraperitoneal saline solution for five consecutive days. The DPOAE test was repeated on the 6th day of the study. All rats were then sacrificed, the cochleas were removed and set aside for biochemical and histopathological analyses. ResultsA significant increase in levels of Malondialdehyde (MDA) and significantly lower activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were observed at rats of cisplatin group. Administration of levosimendan showed significantly lower cochlear MDA levels, while SOD and GPx activities both increased significantly. The DPOAE test performed at 6th day of the study showed a significant impairment in the signal-noise ratio (SNR) levels of rats in Cisplatin group. The SNR levels of rats treated with levosimendan were significantly higher than those of cisplatin group and were similar to those of the control group. Cisplatin impaired the cochlear structure and a severe Caspase 3 and 8-hydroxy-2' -deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) immunopositivity was observed at cochlea of the rats of cisplatin group. Administration of levosimendan protected the structure of cochlea and there was a mild Caspase 3 and 8OHdG immunopositivity. ConclusionOur data demonstrate that levosimendan protects hearing against cisplatin-induced ototoxicity and obviates cellular degeneration. It also significantly reduces oxidative stress and apoptosis, probable mechanisms involved in ototoxicity.

Gestasyonel diyabet yenidoğan işitme kaybında bir risk faktörü müdür?

Aim: Newborn hearing screening is important for early detection of hearing loss in newborns. Gestational diabetes is a metabolic disease that can occur in pregnancy and cause complications such as those in the other diabetes mellitus patients. As uncomplicated gestational diabetes has not been described as a cause for prenatal complications in the literature, this study aimed to determine whether gestational diabetes is a risk factor for hearing impairment among newborns.Methods: This retrospective study included infants born between 2015 and 2017. The infants were divided into two groups: Control group consisted of 100 randomly selected children of healthy mothers. Study group consisted of 79 infants whose mothers had gestational diabetes mellitus. Exclusion criteria included other risk factors and 8 infants were excluded from the study due to risk factors other than gestational diabetes mellitus. The results of transient evoked otoacoustic emissions in infants of mothers with gestational diabetes were compared with those of infants of healthy mothers.Results: In this study, we compared transient evoked otoacoustic emission results of 71 infants of gestational diabetic mothers with 100 infants of healthy mothers. All the infants of healthy mothers, as well as the infants of mothers with gestational diabetes without risk factors, passed the transient evoked otoacoustic emission test. Conclusions: There was no difference detected in the hearing screening results between infants of mothers with gestational diabetes and infants of healthy mothers.

Assessing and monitoring the impact of the national newborn hearing screening program in Israel

BackgroundThe Israeli Newborn Hearing Screening Program (NHSP) began operating nationally in January 2010. The program includes the Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) test for all newborns and Automated Auditory Brainstem Response (A-ABR) test for failed OAE and infants at risk for auditory neuropathy spectrum disorders. NHSP targets are diagnosis of hearing impairment by age three months and initiation of habilitation by six months.Objectives(1) Review NHSP coverage; (2) Assess NHSP impact on age at diagnosis for hearing impairment and age at initiation of habilitation; (3) Identify contributing factors and barriers to NHSP success.Methods(1) Analysis of screening coverage and referral rates for the NHSP; (2) Analysis of demographic data, results of coverage, age at diagnosis and initiation of habilitation for hearing impaired infants pre-implementation and post-implementation of NHSP from 10 habilitation centers; (3) Telephone interviews with parents whose infants failed the screening and were referred for further testing.ResultsThe NHSP coverage was 98.7% (95.1 to 100%) for approximately 179,000 live births per year for 2014–2016 and average referral rates were under 3%. After three years of program implementation, median age at diagnosis was 3.7 months compared to 9.5 months prior to NHSP. The median age at initiation of habilitation after three years of NHSP was 9.4 months compared to 19.0 prior to NHSP. Parents (84% of 483 sampled) with infants aged 4–6 months participated in the telephone survey. While 84% of parents reported receiving a verbal explanation of the screening results, more than half of the parents reported not receiving written material. Parental report of understanding the test results and a heightened level of concern over the failed screen were associated with timely follow-up.ConclusionsThe findings indicate high screening coverage. The program reduced ages at diagnosis and initiation of habilitation for hearing impaired infants. Further steps needed to streamline the NHSP are improving communication among caregivers to parents to reduce anxiety; increasing efficiency in transferring information between service providers using advanced technology while ensuring continuum of care; reducing wait time for follow-up testing in order to meet program objectives. Establishment of a routine monitoring system is underway.

Early Phototherapy at Lower Total Serum Bilirubin Can Decrease Auditory Neuropathy Disorder

Background: Neurologic dysfunctions, specifically hearing impairments due to hyperbilirubinemia are ranked among the main concerns in medicine. Objectives: This study evaluates the prevalence of acute auditory neuropathy (AN) disorders in term neonates with mild to moderate hyperbilirubinemia and low bilirubin-induced neurological dysfunction (BIND) score and the roll of early treatment on reducing their incidence. Methods: Fifty one term jaundice neonates with normal newborn exam and total serum bilirubin (TSB) ≥ 15 mg/dL after the third day of birth with normal otoacoustic emission (OAE) test were enrolled. The BIND score assessment for severity of neurologic dysfunction was done. Neonates with low BIND score were divided into two groups based on their TSB levels at the time of admission (15 - 18 mg/dL: Mild-moderate hyperbilirubinemia and ≥ 19 mg/dL: Severe hyperbilirubinemia). ABR was performed within the first 12 hours of their admission and the second ABR was performed before discharge. Results: The 30.60% of neonates with TSB < 19 mg/dl had abnormal ABR. Latency of V, III waves and interpeak interval latency of I-III, I-V waves were detected. Mean latency of wave V and I-V interpeak latency after phototherapy were significantly decreased compared to pre-treatment (P < 0.001). Conclusions: With the prevalence of auditory neuropathy (AN) at lower TSB concentrations (that have traditionally been considered safe) it can be concluded that more attention should be given to this group despite the absence of neurologic signs, and it also shows the sensitivity of early phototherapy to lower bilirubin level.

Finding out incidence of deafness among neonates at a tertiary care centre of western Rajasthan, India using otoacoustic emission

Background: Newborn hearing screening is conducted to identify suspected hearing loss and not to confirm the presence/absence of hearing loss or define features of the loss. Speech and hearing are interrelated, i.e., a problem with one could mean a problem with the other as speech and language is acquired normally through auditory system.Methods: A descriptive study conducted in the Department of Paediatrics, Dr. S. N. Medical College, Jodhpur, from June 2016 to December 2017. 5000 neonates were screened using otoacoustic emissions (OAE) in 2 stages at birth during 3rd to 7th day and 15-30 days respectively, followed by BERA at 3 months of age.Results: 1.4 infants per thousand infants had hearing loss. Presence of high-risk factors was seen to be associated be associated with hearing loss more than normal infants on screening with distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE) tests. However, on testing with BERA no such association was seen.Conclusions: 1.4 per 1000 infants had hearing loss. This study has shown that two stage distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE) hearing screening followed by british educational research association (BERA) to confirm the hearing deficit, can be successfully implemented as new born hearing screening method in a hospital set-up, for early detection of hearing impaired, on a large scale, to achieve the high-quality standard of screening programs in a resource limited and developing nation like India.

Role of Otoacoustic Emission Test in Neonatal Screening at Tertiary Center.

To study the role of Otoacoustic emission test in neonatal screening at tertiary center. The study was conducted in the ENT department of LN medical college and JK hospital Bhopal (M.P) as a territory center between 2015 and 2017 were 1250 newborns were screened with Otoacoustic emission test with portable Interacoustics OAE DK-5610 assens an routine screening investigation. In our study a multistep screening with OAE was done, 1250 newborns (659 boys and 591 girls) were assessed. In our study we have found that OAE has 66.7% sensitivity and 98.8% specificity in diagnosis of neonatal hearing impairment. Its positive and negative predictive value was 33.3% and 99.7% respectively. It is essential to examine the generalized development of newborns by identifying hearing loss at birth and providing a screening test for assessment of them. 1250 newborns were assessed we compared the results of OAE (screening test) with the results of ABR (diagnostic test) and found sensitivity of OAE to be 66.7% and its specificity 98.8%. We conclude from these results that OAE is a good screening test for hearing loss of neonates, but the results must be confirmed with BERA test.

Evaluation of hearing in pediatric familial Mediterranean fever patients during attack period and attack-free period

ObjectivesFamilial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is the most common monogenic autoinflammatory disease worldwide. It usually has a childhood onset and is characterized with recurrent attacks with irregular intervals. Few studies have been performed to investigate hearing in FMF patients ran with various tests and showed different results. In this study, first time in the literature, we aimed to evaluate and compare auditory functions in pediatric FMF patients during the attack periods and attack-free periods to see the possible effects of autoinflammation that was caused by FMF attacks. Methods40 pediatric FMF patients (80 ears) enrolled in the study as study group and 21 matching (42 ears) healthy children as a control group. Blood samples were taken from patients who presented clinical attack symptoms. Control group and FMF patients that were in attack period underwent audiometric evaluation including pure tone audiometry (0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8 kHz) and Distortion product otoaoustic emission (DPOAE) (1, 1.4, 2, 2.8, 4 kHz) test. The tests were repeated in attackfree period. Correlations between hearing results and C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate levels, duration of disease, age at disease onset, colchicine usage time, cumulative dosage of colchicine and the number of attacks in the last six months were studied. ResultsHearing thresholds of FMF patients, compared to control group, were found to be increased at most frequencies. Lower signal/noise ratios (SNR) were detected at most frequencies in the DPAOE test. In the attack period compared to attack-free period, hearing thresholds in the audiometry were found to be increased at some frequencies (p < 0.05). However, this was not supported by the DPOAE test. In correlation analysis, increased colchicine usage time and colchicine cumulative dosage were associated with decreased thresholds in audiogram and increased SNR values in DPOAE. Detailed statistical analyses of all parameters were included in the study. ConclusionResults demonstrated cochlear involvement in FMF patients. Acute changes in hearing thresholds in the attack period may be suggesting the effect of acute inflammation on cochlea. The difference between the audiometry and otoacoustic emission test results of FMF patients and healthy controls suggests the cumulative effect of recurrent inflammation attacks on cochlea. Positive affect of treatment of the disease with long term colchicine in hearing were also demonstrated.

Are ABO Blood Groups or Rh Antigen Perinatal Factors Affecting the Pass Rate of Transient Otoacoustic Emissions Screening Tests in Healthy Newborns during the First 48 h of Life?

Most hospitals recommend performing neonatal hearing screening. Transient evoked otoacoustic emission (TEOAE) tests represent an ideal technique for conducting this process. Previous studies have related the influence of ABO blood group and Rhesus antigens (Rh) on the susceptibility to various pathologies. However, available data about the potential relationship between ABO blood groups, Rh, and TEOAE pass rates are sparse. Recently, several authors concluded that O blood group and Rh+ are possible influential factors of TEOAE pass rates. Significantly different TEOAE amplitude response between the four main ABO blood groups were observed among normal-hearing individuals. Moreover, ABO blood groups were discussed as a possible influential factor for the development of noise-induced hearing loss later in life. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between ABO blood groups, Rh, and the first TEOAE pass rates in healthy newborns. Data were retrospectively collected from healthy newborns at the maternity ward of F. Borja hospital in Gandia (Spain). Rh and ABO were compared with the results of TEOAE performed within the first 48 h of life. Results: the study group included 2765 newborns. No significant correlation between ABO blood group or Rh and TEOAE pass rates was observed in comparative tables. Conclusion: ABO blood group and Rhesus antigens do not appear to have a significant impact on the pass rate of TEOAE screening in healthy newborns.

Universal neonatal hearing screening in a tertiary care center in South India

Objective: The aim of the study is to determine the prevalence of hearing loss among newborn infants and to assess the effectiveness and utility of otoacoustic emission (OAE) as a screening tool to detect hearing impairment in newborns and the relationship between selected risk factors and hearing loss. Study Design: This study involved 3121 newborns delivered in a tertiary care center over a 3-year period, who were subjected to distortion product OAE (DPOAE) within 24–72 h of life; failed candidates underwent repeat DPOAE after 30 days. Infants failed the second DPOAE test and then underwent DPOAE and brain stem-evoked response audiometry (BERA) at 3 months of life. Results: 20.95% newborns failed the first screening test, 11.77% failed the second test, and 61.91% of these infants failed the third OAE test. Of the 26 infants who failed the third test, 15 had abnormal results on BERA. Overall, the prevalence of hearing loss was 0.48%. Conclusion: Implementation of a national universal newborn hearing screening program in India is the need of the hour, as early detection of hearing loss will aid early rehabilitation and better outcomes.

Prevalence of sensorineural hearing loss in newborns in a hospital from a developing country.

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of nonsyndromic congenital sensorineural hearing loss at the Hospital Universitario San Ignacio, Bogotá, Colombia, and to describe the risk factors associated with this condition. A prospective, observational cross-sectional study with bivariate analysis was conducted. A three-phase process using the Otoacoustic Emissions test screened all live newborns between June 2013 and June 2014. Negative cases were confirmed by Automated Auditory Brainstem Response test. A total of 962 newborns were screened with Otoacoustic Emissions test bilaterally: 401 males (46.36%), 464 females (53.64%). The mean weight was 2 798.10 g (95%CI: 2 766.51 - 2 839.76). The mean height was 48.60 cm (95%CI: 48.38 - 48.79). The mean age was 16.24 days (95%CI: 15.47 - 17.01). The mean maternal age was 27.37 years (95%CI: 26.76 - 27.98). There was a family history of hearing loss in 9.48% of the cases (n=90), and a family history of genetic diseases in 100 cases (10.56%). There were 14 cases of TORCH infections (1.45%), 375 admissions to the NICU (39.06%), 160 cases of neonatal jaundice (20.1%), and 79 cases of postpartum infections (8.21%). One live newborn presented with microtia. The prevalence of congenital sensorineural hearing loss was 0.31% in both ears, and 0.11% in one ear. Currently, Colombia lacks a public universal newborn hearing screening program, and its future implementation faces great challenges.