Clinical analysis of otoacoustic emission on 223 jaundiced neonates

Objective To investigate the influence of neonatal jaundice on cochiea and clinical significance of hearing screening in aundiced neonates by otoacoustic emission(OAE). Methods Two hundred and twenty-three cases of neonatal jaundice were divided into three groups by serum bilirublin between February 2003 to May 2007, 44 cases in the mild jaundice group,92 cases in the intermediate jaundice group and 87 cases in the severe jaundice group.The first OAE were given when the patients were taken to hostipal,and the second test before leaving.The patients who didn't pass the test were tested once again with these ocedures after 4 weeks.Those who failed to pass the third hearing screening were followed up until 6 months old by OAE,and coustic brain-stem response(ABR)was used to monitor the hearing. Results The first time: 81.8% passed in the mild jaundice group, 65.2% passed in the intermediate jaundice group, 49.4% passed in the severe jaundice group,and there was statistical significance between the mild jaundice group and the intermediate jaundice group, the intermediate jaundice group and the severe jaundice group(P<0.05). The second time: 100.0% passed in the mild jaundice group, 88.0% passed in the intermediate jaundice group,74.7% passed in the severe jaundice group.3 months old: 100.0% passed in the intermediate jaundice group,88.5% passedin the severe jaundice group.The passed didn't reach 100.0% in the severe jaundice group in their 6 months old,and those failured to pass were determined with hearing loss. Conclusions Neonatal jaundice can cause hearing loss of neonates and the presence of OAE is closely related to its degree.The influence of severe jaundice and severe jaundice on cochiear is reversible.The OAE test has been found to be practical and quick enough to be performed in jaundiced neonates. Key words: Neonatal jaundice;  Otoacoustic emission