HOW WELL DO ABR THRESHOLDS IN NEWBORNS PREDICT BEHAVIORAL THRESHOLDS AT 6-18 MONTHS?

Uhlén I, Geng R.

Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.

The aim of this study was to compare ABR thresholds early in the screening process with different Behavioral Hearing Tests (BHTs) performed at follow up, to know what the correlations are.

Neonatal hearing screening was implemented in the whole Stockholm region in 2005. The maternity wards are  responsible for primary testing with TOAE. After a second OAE with no pass result the child is referred to the Department of Audiology for further investigation. There the investigation starts with a third TOAE and if negative ABR thresholds are established in natural sleep. All OAE  and ABR test results are saved in a data base. During the period from october 2005 to may 2008, 120 children with ABR thresholds of 40 dB on both ears or worse were diagnosed. Intervention took place in children with thresholds of 50 dB or above who received hearing aids within 3-6 months. Otoscopy is difficult in these tiny ears and OME could be suspected in many of these children. Hearing thresholds of less tha 50 dB and suspected OME were scheduled for follow up. Hearing threshold from 1-4 KHz at 6-18 months have been compared to ABR thresholds. There is a positive correlation but with a considerable variability. Medical conditions e.g. cleft palate and Mb Down are common explanations but true progress is also seen.

E-mail: ingeru@hotmail.com