Response level of the transient-evoked otoacoustic emissions on infants having a gastroesophageal reflux

Summary Introduction: The transient-evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE) have been the most widespread technique to perform neonatal hearing screening. Scrutinizing their measures by way of an association with other alterations that may impair the infant's auditory system is important. Objective: Analyze the incidence and the response levels of the transient-evoked otoacoustic emissions on infants having a physiological gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Method: A prospective study was performed at Santa Juliana Hospital's Otorhinolaryngology Department. 118 prematurely-born and timely-born babies, from newly-born to 6 months old, who were sent by pediatricians and gastropediatricians, participated in the study and they were divided into two groups: Study Group: 63 infants clinically diagnosed of a physiological gastroesophageal reflux disease, and Control Group: 55 infants without a physiological gastroesophageal reflux. The peripheral hearing function was evaluated by both transient-evoked otoacoustic emissions and otoscopy examinations performed by an otorhinolaryngologist. Results: The average response levels of the transient-evoked otoacoustic emissions were higher in the non-reflux group for frequency bands of 2kHz, 2.5kHz, 3kHz, 3.5kHz and 4.5kHz bilaterally, with a statistically significant difference, achieving the average values of 7.71dB and 7dB in the right ear found in the frequency bands of 2 and 4kHz, respectively. Conclusion: There was a lower incidence and a lower response level of the transient-evoked otoacoustic emissions in physiological gastroesophageal reflux children in comparison with children having no reflux.