A study on neonatal hearing screening in a tribal based medical college using screening otoacoustic emissions

Background: Hearing screening is a universal procedure for early detection and prevention of hearing loss. The Oto-acoustic emission (OAE) is a very useful screening test to rule out abnormal cochlear outer hair cells functioning which is lead to hearing loss. Methods: This prospective observational study was carried out among 600 neonates who were admitted to NICU and post-natal ward from April 2024 to September 2024. Only TEOAE (Transient evoked OAE) was considered for this study. Results: In this study among 600 neonates, 58.33 (%) neonates were male and 41.66 (%) were females, 155 (25.83%) were normal (without risk factors) neonates and 445 (74.16%) were high risk neonates and finally 544 (90.66%) neonates passed the test after second screening. Conclusions: Screening OAE is a very reliable, fast, noninvasive and cost-effective approach, particularly for neonates. we can easily rule out the early listening to loss with the aid of the use of the device screening OAEs.