Abstract

Background: Transiently evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs) is an objectivediagnostic method of assessing the cochlear status. The aim of this study was to present the resultsof hearing screening in children and to evaluate TEOAEs in the diagnosis of middle-ear pathology comparedwith tympanometry and pure-tone audiometry. Material/Methods: A group of school-aged children underwentotolaryngological evaluation, tympanometry, TEOAEs, and audiometry. We analyzed data from both ears withabnormal tympanograms and ears with normal tympanograms but abnormal otoscopic findings or positive otologichistory. Included in our study were 497 ears. Results: Two hundred ten (42%) ears had a tympanogram oftype A, 102 (20.5%) of type B, and 185 (37.5%) of type C. Otoacoustic emissions were found in 200 (95%),37 (36%), and 145 (78%) of these ears, respectively. In ears with a tympanogram of B type and presentotoacoustic emissions, a pure-tone average (PTA) worse than 30 dB HL was found in 16 ears (43%), whereasin ears with a tympanogram of B type and absent otoacoustic emissions, PTA worse than 30 dB HL was foundin 47 ears (72.3%). The respective numbers for ears with a tympanogram of C type were 18 (12.4%) and19 (47.5%). Conclusions: TEOAEs may be recorded in significant percentages of ears with abnormal tympanogramsand middle-ear pathology. Although the sensitivity of this method is low, it may be used in conjunctionwith other methods of evaluating the middle ear and may give some information about the hearing statusof the ear.

Keywords: Child, Acoustic Stimulation, Acoustic Impedance Tests, Ear Diseases - diagnosis, Ear, Middle, Evoked Potentials, Auditory