Evidence and recommendation. What is the best technique for neonatal hearing screening?

• Main Authors: José Ignacio BENITO-OREJAS, José Luis PARDAL-REFOYO
• Format: Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Ediciones Universidad de Salamanca 2016-03-01
• Series: Revista ORL
• Subjects: hipoacusia; tamizaje neonatal; recién nacido; potenciales evocados auditivos; otoemisiones acústicas
• Online Access: https://revistas.usal.es/index.php/2444-7986/article/view/14680

Introduction and objective: Clinical question: The otoacoustic emissions (OAE) and automated auditory evoked potentials brainstem response (ABR-A) are acceptable and used in neonatal hearing screening. PICO question: In a newborn [patient], does technique ABR-A against AEE [compared], provide superior detection [result], for neonatal screening hearing loss [intervention]?. Material and Methods: Literature search in PubMed and Cochrane data meta-analysis, clinical trials and general articles, including descriptors "hearing loss", "neonatal screening", "infant, newborn," "evoked potentials, auditory", "otoacoustic emissions". Selected studies in Spanish or English directly comparing one technique over another. Results: The evidence is high for ABR-A because they are more effective (with higher levels of sensitivity and specificity) than the OAE, especially in neonatal intensive care unit and in children at risk of auditory neuropathy. Conclusions: Recommendation: The recommendation is strongly in favor of using ABR-A versus OAS as an initial test in neonatal screening for hearing loss.