Transient evoked otoacoustic emissions in full-term and preterm newborns

Purpose to evaluate and compare the amplitude of transient evoked otoacoustic emissions, observing the variables gender and ear in preterm and term newborns with and without hearing impairment risk. Methods the group studied consisted of 156 newborns of both genders, aged up to 54 post-conceptional weeks, allocated into three groups according to their gestational age. Group G1 was composed of 83 term newborns and G2 of 73 preterm infants. The latter was subdivided into G2A, composed of 42 newborns without hearing loss risk and G2B of 31 newborns at risk. The transient evoked otoacoustic emissions were obtained by nonlinear click stimulus presented at 84 dB SPL with the Echocheck ILO OAE Screener, Otodynamics. For data analysis, the following statistical tests were used: Mann-Whitney, chi-square or Fisher exact test, Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA and Dunn multiple, post marked Wilcoxon with p< 0, 05 was considered significant. Results the amplitude of the transient evoked otoacoustic emissions was greater in G1 (p= 0.017) than in G2 (p= 0.048) in the right and left ear and these difference was significant. Group G1 (p = 0,009) presented statistically greater amplitude in otoacoustic emissions than G2B in the right ear. Conclusion the term group presented greater amplitude in otoacoustic emissions than the pre-term group. No difference in otoacoustic emissions was observed in the variables gender or ear.