Recognize the Function of Otoacoustic Emission (OAE) Examination in Babies

Otoacoustic Emission (OAE) is a newborn screening or hearing test that captures emissions in the cochlea.

Why Need an Otoacoustic Emission (OAE) Test?

Hearing loss in infants and children is difficult to detect early on, because hearing loss can cause speech, language, cognitive, social and emotional problems.

The critical period of hearing and speech development begins in the first 6 months of life and continues until the age of 2 years.

This newborn hearing test is done after the baby is born or no later than 1 month after birth. Hearing test results can be used as a follow-up examination for the diagnosis of hearing loss in infants aged 3 months.

The causes of hearing loss in newborns vary widely, namely:

TORCHS infection during pregnancy
Family history of nerve deafness since birth
Anatomical abnormalities
Brain infection.

How to Perform Otoacoustic Emissions?

Examination of otoacoustic emissions is carried out by:

- Attaching a small plug usually equipped with a mini speaker and microphone wrapped with a soft material plug (eartip) to the baby / child's ear for a few seconds

- The speaker will deliver the stimulus into the ear canal, and will be responded to by the cochlea. Then, the conduction will be detected by the microphone and measured by the screener.

How are Otoacoustic Emissions Interpreted?

If the results of the OAE pass and the child has risk factors, it is necessary to monitor speech and language development every 6 months until the age of 3 years.

If the results of OAE refer, it is necessary to confirm the presence of hearing loss with OAE and ABR at the age of 3 months, and if there is hearing loss, immediately conduct hearing rehabilitation either with hearing aids (ABD) or cochlear implants.

Where to Do Otoacoustic Emissions?

Examination of otoacoustic emissions can be done at the hospital, every newborn at the Hermina Tangkubanprahu Hospital will receive screening for otoacoustic emissions (OAE)