Objective: To evaluate the characteristics of transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE) of healthy newborns and improve hearing screening of newborns.
Method: To investigate the history of pregnancy and parturition, TEOAE was measured in 425 ears of 215 healthy newborns from 0 to 8 days postpartum and follow-up study was undertaken.
Result: The general prevalence was 89%. There was some relationship between prevalence and testing time. The average prevalence was 74% in newborns of 0-3 days. The prevalence was 97% in newborns of 4-8 days. The way of parturition, laterality and time of pregnancy over 36 weeks hadn't any significant effect on the prevalence rate. The prevalence of females was higher than males. Quick screen was more sensitive than TEOAE. One ear of hearing loss was diagnosed after follow-up.
Conclusion: The hearing screening test of newborns should be taken in hospitals after 4 days of birth, the way of parturition had no effect on the cochlear function. The mature time of cochlear hair cells was by the 36th week of pregnancy. Quick screen couldn't take place of TEOAE. Someone who had no TEOAE in one ear or two ears must be followed up and reexamined and exact diagnosis could be made as soon as possible combining with ABR.