Synchronous Spontaneous Cochlear Emissions in Neonates and Adults: A Comparative Study

Objectives The primary objective of the current study was to characterize synchronous spontaneous otoacoustic emissions (SSOAEs) in adults and neonates. It was also interesting to compare the prevalence, frequency, and amplitudes of SSOAE in neonates and adults. Materials and Method A prospective comparative study design was employed in which synchronized SSOAEs were recorded binaurally from 92 neonates and 100 adults using an Echoport ILO 292 OAE analyzer. The recorded spectrum was analyzed for the number, amplitude, spectral distribution, and prevalence of SSOAEs. Statistical Analysis The data were subjected to descriptive and inferential statistics using JASP version 0.16.1.0. A chi-squared test was used to compare the prevalence of SSOAEs in the test population. The Shapiro-Wilk test for normality was administered to check the data distribution. The nonparametric Mann-Whitney U test and parametric independent t -test were used to compare the amplitude and frequency data. Results The findings revealed a higher prevalence of SSOAEs in neonates (42.8%) compared with adults (18%). The analysis also showed that the multiple-frequency SSOAEs were more prevalent than single-frequency SSOAEs in adults and neonates. The percentage of SSOAE occurrence was highest in the 2- to 3-kHz bin for adults, whereas in neonates, most SSOAEs occurred between 3 and 4 kHz. The results showed that the SSOAE amplitude across frequency bands was significantly higher in newborns compared with adults in all the frequency bins. Conclusion The present study revealed a lesser prevalence of SSOAE in adults and neonates than in earlier reports. However, no difference in the spectral characteristics was observed.