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Hearing evaluation in newborns with congenital aural malformation. Objectives: Over 5 years, 68,472 newborns were screened through a newly implemented universal newborn hearing screening program. In 15 cases, atresia of the external ear canal was found. The aim of this study was to estimate the hearing status of these newborns using transiently evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs) and auditory brainstem responses (ABRs).
Methods: TEOAEs were performed during the first days after birth in the normal ears of all newborns. Diagnostic ABR audiometry was performed in 10 newborns.
Results: Unilateral involvement occurred in all newborns studied. TEOAEs were present in all the contralateral ears. Normal ABRs were recorded from the healthy ear, whereas a conductive hearing loss, of approximately 50-60 dB, was found in the involved ear. In long-term follow-up, a satisfactory level of hearing, language, and speech development was found in 9 of the newborns; it was too early to come to definite conclusions in 4 newborns and 2 newborns were lost in follow-up.
Conclusions: In this study, all newborns with aural atresia had normal function in the contralateral ear. Yet, a comprehensive assessment of hearing is essential as early intervention is necessary in the rare case of bilateral hearing impairment.