Comparing outcomes of hearing testing between OAE and Audiometry in children with Autism spectrum disorder and Attention deficit hyperactive disorder.

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Hearing function plays an important role in behavioral, intellectual academic, and social development in children. Early hearing screening is a must to reduce the impact of hearing loss among children. OAE is a common investigation done in high-risk neonates today to screen for early onset hearing loss. This study was undertaken to understand the role of OAE in the early childhood of children with Autistic Spectrum of disorders/ADHD/inattentiveness (where pure tone audiometry is still not reliable) in the identification of hearing disorders.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study group comprised 35 children ( 2-6 years) diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum of disorders and Attention deficient hyperactive disorder came to the Department of ENT at a tertiary medical care centre (Sree Balaji Medical College) in January 2022 to June 2022. Conditioned play audiometry and transient evoked otoacoustic emission and distortion product otoacoustic emission testing were performed on all children.

RESULTS: From our study, with otoacoustic emission testing, 62.8% of the children received PASS and 22.88% of children received REFER. The children who co-operated during the conditioned play audiometry was 51.4% and for otoacoustic emission testing was 85.7% with a p-value of 0.00411(<0.05) which is statistically significant. So, there is a significant difference in children who co-operated during conditioned play audiometry and otoacoustic emission.

CONCLUSION:

Proper screening of hearing loss plays an important role in early diagnosis and rehabilitation in children. Otoacoustic emission in children helps to provide data that can improve hearing screening outcomes. Otoacoustic emissions testing in children is more feasible and accessible in the community hearing screening in comparison to play audiometry and BERA.