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The Impact of Post-Birth Timing on OAE Test Efficacy: An Observational Analysis of Neonatal Hearing Screening

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Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Identifying auditory impairments early in newborns is essential to prevent developmental delays. Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) screenings play a critical role in newborn hearing assessments. However, the ideal timing post-birth for these tests remains unclear. This study evaluates the efficacy of OAE screenings within the first five days after birth to determine the most effective timing. An observational study involved 1,013 full-term neonates at a tertiary care centre. These neonates underwent Transient Evoked Otoacoustic Emissions (TEOAE) screenings daily from Day 1 to Day 5, following WHO and JCIH guidelines. The study assessed pass rates, false positives, and false negatives, with follow-up screenings at one and three months for neonates with initial ambiguous results. The study found that screening efficiency significantly increased, with Day 1 pass rates at 8% (81 neonates) and 98% (992 neonates) by Day 5, marking a significant improvement in diagnostic accuracy (p < 0.001). False positive rates dropped from 92% on Day 1 to 2% by Day 5, and false negatives decreased to below 1%. Sensitivity and specificity reached their peak at 98% and 99.5%, respectively, on Day 5. Our study findings advocate for adjusting neonatal hearing screening protocols to include OAE tests on the fifth day post-birth, optimizing clinical efficacy through enhanced diagnostic accuracy and reducing the logistical and emotional burdens on families and healthcare providers.

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Data Availability

The present study incorporates an accompanying additional data file that has been carefully reformatted to ensure the utmost protection of patient information. To obtain further information or to conduct a more comprehensive analysis of the datasets, individuals can reach out to the corresponding author, Dr. Sanjay Kumar. It is essential to acknowledge that the original raw data are kept confidential because of rigorous privacy regulations. Moreover, all data gathering procedures were carried out in strict adherence to the ethical standards set forth by the Command Hospital Air Force, located in Bangalore, India.

Abbreviations

OAE:

Otoacoustic Emissions

WHO:

World Health Organisation

JCIH:

Joint Committee on Infant Hearing

TEOAE:

Transient Evoked Otoacoustic Emissions

BERA:

Brainstem Evoked Response Audiometry

LSCS:

Lower section caesarean sections

DPOAEs:

Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions

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Acknowledgements

We express our appreciation to the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Joint Committee on Infant Hearing (JCIH) for their contributions in establishing the guidelines that provided guidance for the protocols employed in our research. We would like to express our gratitude to the committed medical and administrative personnel of Command Hospital Air Force, Bangalore, India, for their consistent support and assistance during the duration of the study. The present study was supported by self-funding, and we express our gratitude to those individuals who, via personal financial resources and unwavering commitment, facilitated the execution of this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ear, Throat - Head and Neck Surgery, ENT-HNS), Command Hospital Airforce, Bangalore, Karnataka, 560007, India

    Sanjay Kumar

  2. Audiologist & Speech-Language Pathologist, Department of Ear, Nose, Throat - Head and Neck Surgery (ENT-HNS), Command Hospital Airforce, Bangalore, Karnataka, 560007, India

    Rashmi Natraj

  3. Trained in Head & Neck, Department of Ear, Throat - Head and Neck Surgery (ENT-HNS), Command Hospital Airforce, Bangalore, Karnataka, 560007, India

    Angshuman Dutta

  4. Department of ENT-HNS, Command Hospital Airforce, Bangalore, Karnataka, 560007, India

    Sanjay Kumar

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  1. Sanjay Kumar
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  2. Rashmi Natraj
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  3. Angshuman Dutta
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Correspondence to Sanjay Kumar.

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Kumar, S., Natraj, R. & Dutta, A. The Impact of Post-Birth Timing on OAE Test Efficacy: An Observational Analysis of Neonatal Hearing Screening. Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12070-024-04700-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12070-024-04700-0

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