Wideband Tympanometry and High-Frequency Tympanometry in Neonates

Abstract

Aim and Objectives: The study aims to investigate the efficacy of WBT and HFT in reducing false positive rates in newborn hearing screening. Additionally, this study aims to assess middle ear function using WBT and HFT in both high-risk and non-high-risk infants, referred for detailed audiological evaluation based on initial OAE and AABR evaluations. The research also seeks to compare the incidence of middle ear issues between high-risk and non-high-risk neonates and evaluate the effectiveness of WBT and HFT in identifying middle ear function. Methods: In a study involving 76 neonates (152 ears), with an average age of approximately 2.05 days, 44 males and 32 females were included. They were divided into two groups: Group 1 consisted of 31 neonates who passed newborn hearing screenings and had no high risk, while Group 2 comprised 45 neonates, further subdivided into Group 2a (21 neonates) with no high risk and Group 2b (24 neonates) at high risk, who were referred from newborn hearing screening. All the neonates underwent both HFT and WBT assessments. Results and Discussion: This study compared WBA and HFT in neonates between Group 1 and Group 2a and 2b. Using descriptive and non parametric Kruskal–Wallis test, Pass criteria were established based on a control group. WBA showed that 88.09% of Group 2a and 87.5% of Group 2b neonates had middle ear pathology and reduced absorbance across all the frequency in both 2a and 2b group, possibly due to transient conditions affecting sound transmission. HFT revealed that 78.57% of Group 2a and 79.16% of Group 2b neonates had middle ear issues, likely related to fluid in the middle ear. There was no significant difference in middle ear problem incidence between Group 2a and Group 2b. WBA was found to be more effective than HFT in identifying middle ear pathology due to its broader frequency assessment. Conclusion: The study's results underscore the importance of including a middle ear assessment tool in newborn hearing screening to reduce false positive results. And also indicate that WBA is particularly effective in predicting the outcomes of OAE and AABR tests in newborn hearing screening. This highlights the value of comprehensive screening protocols that take middle ear function into account to improve the accuracy of identifying hearing issues in newborns and minimizing unnecessary referrals.