[Hearing screening in neonates and infants using brain stem evoked acoustic potentials].

Reported failure rates of screening using the conventional brainstem auditory response (BAER), audiometry range from 5% to 60% with about 30% of the babies having normal hearing sensitivity on follow-up. The results of testing by an automated infant screener using advanced evoked response technology are compared with those of a conventional evoked response system operated by skilled personnel. 50 newborn were tested at a gestational age of 40-42 weeks. Normal results were obtained in all 25 newborn (50 ears) of the control group using both testing procedures. Out of 25 newborn (50 ears) at risk for congenital perinatal or postnatal hearing disorder, abnormal results for either screening or conventional BAER recording were seen in 6 ears with both methods.