Spontaneous otoacoustic emissions in two infants.

CONCLUSION

We regard spontaneous otoacoustic emission (SOAE) as a unique phenomenon due to spontaneous outer hair cell hyperactivity during the infantile period in these two infants.

OBJECTIVES

We report the cases of SOAEs in two infants, which were audible to their parents. We were able to hear continuous sounds from these two infants' ears. We studied their hearing and the emitted sounds objectively.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

Patient 1 was a 5-month-old girl and patient 2 was an 11-month-old girl. Their parents heard continuous sounds emanating from their infants' ears. Audiological examinations and frequency analysis were conducted.

RESULTS

The distortion-product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) and auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) of the two patients were normal. Analysis of the continuous sounds demonstrated frequencies of 4.2 and 6.5 kHz for patient 1 and 6.7 kHz for patient 2. These audible sounds were diagnosed as SOAEs. The SOAEs in these infants did not disappear with their development in the last 2 years.