Correlation between Transient Evoked Otoacoustic Emissions and Prenatal, Perinatal, and Postnatal Indicators

Introduction: Knowing about the factors that might influence the results of otoacoustic emissions may contribute to improve the sensitivity and specificity of the evaluation.

Objectives: This study aimed to correlate the results of transient evoked otoacoustic emissions with gestational, birth, and newborn indicators.

Method: A cross-sectional and prospective study conducted in a low-risk maternity, partner of a public university. The sample consisted of 645 neonates, aged between 6 and 54 days (average of 13 days). Initially, there was an interview to collect information about the variables to be investigated, such as birth weight, gender, age, gestational time, type of delivery, and complications during pregnancy, Apgar scores at 1' and 5', and high-risk indicators of hearing loss. Afterward, the neonates underwent hearing screening using transient evoked otoacoustic emissions with AccuScreen (Madsen, GN Otometrics A/S, Denmark). To verify the relationship between the variables and the results of transient evoked otoacoustic emissions, Spearman correlation was applied, adopting a significance level of 5% (p ≤ 0.0).

Results: When correlating the variables with the results of transient evoked otoacoustic emissions, there was a significant negative correlation only for the baby's age, that is, higher the age lower the failure rate. However, no other variable was correlated with the results of the evaluation.

Conclusion: The only variable that influenced the results of transient evoked otoacoustic emission, after hospital discharge, was the age at which the baby was evaluated.

Keywords: audiology, neonatal screening, hearing tests.