Neonatal Hearing Screening - Otoacoustic Emissions
What are Otoacoustic Emissions (OAEs) / Neonatal Hearing Screening?
Otoacoustic emissions are a screening test for newborn hearing. It involves sending sound stimuli to the infant's ear and recording the ear's response.
The procedure is performed using a machine with an optical fibre cable connected to a silicone nozzle placed at the entrance of the newborn's ear canal. The test takes only a few seconds and is performed in a quiet environment, usually during sleep. It is recommended to be completed in the first days of the newborn's life, either during the stay in the maternity hospital or, in any case, within the first month. It is a short, painless, non-invasive test, with high sensitivity and low cost.
Significance of Neonatal Hearing Screening
Early detection of congenital hearing impairment is paramount for initiating timely and appropriate therapeutic interventions. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are essential to mitigate the adverse effects of hearing loss on speech comprehension, language development, cognitive functions, and the child's overall social and educational outcomes.
A significant proportion of infants with hearing impairment are born to parents with normal hearing and exhibit no other high-risk indicators or concerning symptoms.
Diagnosis
The optimal window for diagnosing congenital hearing loss is within the first 3-6 months of life. The goal is to commence and ideally complete therapeutic interventions before the age of 2 years, coinciding with the critical period of language acquisition.
Thanks to advances in medicine and technology, it is now possible to provide young children with a hearing capacity very close to normal, allowing them to develop speech and communication skills naturally.