[Click-evoked otoacoustic emissions and acoustic brain stem potentials in early detection of hearing disorders in premature and newborn infants after neonatal critical care].

Evoked otoacoustic emissions (EOAE) and brainstem acoustic evoked potentials (BAEP) were recorded from 78 children following neonatal intensive care. In 23% no EOAE could be obtained. Hearing impairment in the BAEP was found in 9%. In 22% negative EOAE were found in spite of normal BAEP. According to the latency-intensity function of waves I and V all children with abnormal BAEP were classified having a conductive hearing loss. In accordance in no case a narrowing of the emission spectrum could be found in the EOAE. In both methods the rate of hearing impairment was highest in children with birth weights of less than 1000 g. A screening of all infants after neonatal intensive care using EOAE is recommended. BAEP should be done additionally in cases with deficient EOAE.