Pediatric Hearing Screening

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Pediatric Hearing Screenings: Otoacoustic Emissions
Only half of all school age children with hearing loss have a history of an abnormal newborn screening (Cunningham & Cox, 2003). For this reason, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends hearing screenings at birth, five, six, eight and 10 years of age (as cited in Riley, Locke, & Skye, 2011). The otoacoustic emissions (OAE) is a popular choice for hearing screenings because it requires no response by the person being screened, and has high specificity and sensitivity to hearing difficulties (Foust, Eiserman, Shisler, & Geroso, 2013).
History of Otoacoustic Emissions
Kemp (1978) was first to provide evidence regarding the possibility of using otoacoustic emissions to evaluate the auditory
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To do this, a small probe is fitted inside the ear canal, and the machine introduces a sound impulse. If the auditory structures are normal, the energy from the impulse will dissipate throughout the ear (Foust et al., 2013). If there is an abnormality within the cochlea, however, the energy is ricocheted back towards the meatus of the ear. OAE devices work by detecting that reflected energy (Kemp, 1978). Results from the OAE are simply pass or fail; a fail response indicates the need for additional assessment to determine the underlying cause. These devices indicate referral is necessary for three primary reasons: middle ear dysfunction, cochlear abnormalities, and cerumen impaction (Foust et al., 2013). OAE devices are unable to detect neurological abnormalities within the auditory system (Cunningham & Cox, …show more content…
Foust et al. (2013) recommends a tiered response for a referral reading. First, an otoscopic exam should be performed, and medical treatment should be initiated promptly for effusion, acute otitis media, or cerumen impaction. A repeat of the OAE test should be completed in two weeks for any referral reading, regardless if medical intervention was indicated or not. If the child passes the second screen, no further action is needed. If the child fails the second screen, he or she should be referred to audiology and/or otorhinolaryngology depending on the result of the middle ear evaluation. Parents should be educated about the possible causes of referral with the OAE, as well as appropriate follow-up. Furthermore, the importance of treating hearing loss promptly to avoid serious consequences should be explained to the