Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences. Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research (DU). Chennai, 600 116, India.
Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences. Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research (DU). Chennai, 600 116, India.
Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2021 Jul;146:110745. doi: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2021.110745. Epub 2021 Apr 28.
Very preterm infants are at a greater risk of developing neurodevelopmental impairments such as neuro-motor delays, vision and hearing deficits (Roze and Breart, 2004; Saigal and Doyle, 2008) [1,2]. The hearing difficulties in preterm infants vary depending on the co-morbid conditions. However, prematurity itself is considered as a risk factor that influence the functioning of auditory system.
The current study aims to compare the DPOAEs in very preterm infants and term infants at 1 month, 3 months and 6 months of age (corrected age in preterm infants).
DPOAEs were recorded in 72 very preterm infants and 30 term infants at 1 month, 3 months and 6 months of age. All these infants had obtained 'pass' results in newborn hearing screening using ABR. DPOAE f2 test frequency was measured at six frequencies (1500 Hz, 2000 Hz, 3000 Hz, 4500 Hz, 6000 Hz and 8000 Hz) with primary tone stimulus intensity L1 equal to 65 dBSPL and L2 equal to 55 dBSPL with primary tone f2/f1 frequency ratio of 1.2. Otoscopic examination and tympanometry was performed prior to DPOAE testing, to ascertain normal middle ear status.
DPOAE amplitude did not change significantly between two groups from 1 month till 6 months of age (p > 0.05). DPOAE amplitude and noise floor in very preterm infants were not different from term infants and DPOAE amplitude did not vary significantly across f2 frequencies at various time periods.
The current study findings provided evidence that prematurity did not constitute as a factor to influence the results of DPOAE in very preterm infants who passed newborn hearing screening test. Any significant reduction in DPOAE amplitude or absence of DPOAE in very preterm infants has to be considered and monitored effectively, as it may not reflect a developmental process of cochlear function; instead it could indicate the presence of inner ear or middle ear pathology.
极早产儿发生神经运动发育迟缓、视力和听力缺陷等神经发育损伤的风险更高（Roze 和 Breart，2004；Saigal 和 Doyle，2008）[1,2]。早产儿的听力障碍取决于合并症。然而，早产本身被认为是影响听觉系统功能的一个危险因素。
本研究旨在比较极早产儿和足月婴儿在 1 个月、3 个月和 6 个月（极早产儿的矫正年龄）时的耳声发射（DPOAE）。
在 1 个月、3 个月和 6 个月时，对 72 名极早产儿和 30 名足月婴儿进行 DPOAE 记录。所有这些婴儿在使用 ABR 的新生儿听力筛查中均获得“通过”结果。使用 f2 测试频率为 1500 Hz、2000 Hz、3000 Hz、4500 Hz、6000 Hz 和 8000 Hz 的 DPOAE，测试 f2 测试频率，初级音调刺激强度 L1 为 65 dBSPL，L2 为 55 dBSPL，初级音调 f2/f1 频率比为 1.2。在进行 DPOAE 测试之前，进行耳镜检查和鼓室压测量，以确定正常的中耳状态。
从 1 个月到 6 个月，两组之间的 DPOAE 幅度没有显著变化（p>0.05）。极早产儿的 DPOAE 幅度和噪声基底与足月婴儿没有差异，并且在各个时间段，DPOAE 幅度在不同的 f2 频率上没有显著变化。
本研究结果表明，早产儿并没有成为影响通过新生儿听力筛查测试的极早产儿 DPOAE 结果的因素。极早产儿 DPOAE 幅度的任何显著降低或 DPOAE 的缺失都必须被认为是有效的，因为它可能不能反映耳蜗功能的发育过程；相反，它可能表明内耳或中耳病理学的存在。
