Feasibility of otoacoustic emissions as a hearing screen following grommet insertion

Cullington, H.E., Kumar, B.U. and Flood, L.M. (1998) Feasibility of otoacoustic emissions as a hearing screen following grommet insertion. British Journal of Audiology, 32 (1), 57-62. (doi:10.3109/03005364000000051). (PMID:9643308)

Record type: Article

Abstract

Following grommet insertion, it is important to establish that there is no underlying sensorineural hearing impairment. In this hospital, approximately 1000 grommet insertions are performed each year, thus generating a heavy workload of review appointments for ENT and audiology. The present study investigates the efficacy of performing evoked otoacoustic emissions screening on 108 children when they were ready to leave the hospital following grommet insertion. Bilateral normal otoacoustic emissions were recorded in 32% (35 children), although 99% (105) of the 106 children attending the outpatient review appointment had normal hearing sensitivity. If normal hearing thresholds were established immediately following surgery, it can be argued that this obviates the need for an outpatient review appointment; however, in this study only one-third of children could be discharged after surgery. Otoacoustic emissions therefore does not represent an effective screen at this stage.

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