Effect of Contralateral Ear Occlusion in Newborns on the Amplitude of Transient Evoked and Distortion-Product Otoacoustic Emissions in Noisy Environments
-
Maryam Yarahmadi
,
Hassan Haddadzade Niri
,
Nariman Rahbar
,
Malihah Mazaheryazdi Mazaheryazdi
,
Arash Bordbar
,
Mohammad Amin Sharafi
Abstract
Background and Aim: Background noise, especially in noisy environments such as Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs), can compromise the accuracy of Otoacoustic Emission (OAE) tests by activating the Medial Olivocochlear (MOC) reflex, which suppresses the OAE amplitudes. This study aimed to evaluate whether the contralateral ear occlusion can improve the OAE amplitudes of newborns in noisy environments.
Methods: Thirty full-term newborns with no signs of hearing loss were enrolled. The OAEs, including Distortion-Product OAE (DPOAE) and Transient Evoked OAE (TEOAE),were recorded in the presence of three noises (two white noises at 50 and 60 dB SPL, and one recorded NICU noise) without and with contralateral ear occlusion (using a soundproof headphone). The OAE amplitudes were compared between two open and non-occluded conditions using paired t-test.
Results: After occlusion of the contralateral ear, there was a slight overall enhancement in DPOAE and TEOAE amplitudes in the presence of all noise types, which was statistically significant based on the paired t-test results. This improvement was more considerable in the presence of NICU noise than in the presence of white noise. The improvement in TEOAE amplitude was not as remarkable compared to the DPOAE amplitude.
Conclusion: The contralateral ear occlusion can improve the DPOAE and TEOAE levels in newborns, probably by reducing the activation of the MOC reflex, which can improve the accuracy of OAE tests and reduce the false positive results for newborns in noisy environments, consequently lowering the further diagnostic costs and parental concerns.
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9. Sabbagh S, Amiri M, Khorramizadeh M, Iranpourmobarake Z, Nickbakht M. Neonatal Hearing Screening: Prevalence of Unilateral and Bilateral Hearing Loss and Associated Risk Factors. Cureus. 2021;13(6):e15947. [DOI:10.7759/cureus.15947]
10. Wallhagen MI, Strawbridge WJ, Shema SJ. The relationship between hearing impairment and cognitive function: a 5-year longitudinal study. Res Gerontol Nurs. 2008;1(2):80-6. [DOI:10.3928/19404921-20080401-08]
11. Dhar S, Hall III JW. Otoacoustic Emissions: Principles, Procedures, and Protocols. 2nd ed. San Diego: Plural Publishing, Inc; 2018.
12. Lopez-Poveda EA. Olivocochlear Efferents in Animals and Humans: From Anatomy to Clinical Relevance. Front Neurol. 2018;9:197. [DOI:10.3389/fneur.2018.00197]
13. Haddadzade Niri H, Pourbakht A, Rahbar N, Haghani H. Brainstem Representation of Auditory Overshoot in Guinea Pigs Using Auditory Brainstem Responses. Iran J Child Neurol. 2021;15(2):41-56. [DOI:10.22037/ijcn.v15i2.26241]
14. Guinan JJ Jr. Olivocochlear efferents: Their action, effects, measurement and uses, and the impact of the new conception of cochlear mechanical responses. Hear Res. 2018;362:38-47. [DOI:10.1016/j.heares.2017.12.012]
15. Gkoritsa E, Korres S, Segas I, Xenelis I, Apostolopoulos N, Ferekidis E. Maturation of the auditory system: 2. Transient otoacoustic emission suppression as an index of the medial olivocochlear bundle maturation. Int J Audiol. 2007;46(6):277-86. [DOI:10.1080/14992020701261405]
16. Abdala C, Mishra S, Garinis A. Maturation of the human medial efferent reflex revisited. J Acoust Soc Am. 2013;133(2):938-50. [DOI:10.1121/1.4773265]
17. Durante AS, Carvallo RM. Contralateral suppression of linear and nonlinear transient evoked otoacoustic emissions in neonates at risk for hearing loss. J Commun Disord. 2008;41(1):70-83. [DOI:10.1016/j.jcomdis.2007.05.001]
18. Chabert R, Guitton MJ, Amram D, Uziel A, Pujol R, Lallemant JG, et al. Early maturation of evoked otoacoustic emissions and medial olivocochlear reflex in preterm neonates. Pediatr Res. 2006;59(2):305-8. [DOI:10.1203/01.pdr.0000196739.16060.0a]
19. Campos Ude P, Hatzopoulos S, Kochanek K, Sliwa L, Skarzynski H, Carvallo RM. Contralateral suppression of optoacoustic emissions: input-output functions in neonates. Med Sci Monit. 2011;17(10):CR557-62. [DOI:10.12659/msm.881981]
20. Aly HA, Ahmed AM. Effect of Noise on Neonatal Vital Data and Behavior in NICU. Clin Med Diagn. 2016;6(1):1-6. [DOI:10.5923/j.cmd.20160601.01]
21. Lotfi Y, Movallali G. A Universal Newborn Hearing Screening in Iran. Iranian Rehabilitation Journal. 2007;5(1):8-11.
22. Papsin E, Harrison AL, Carraro M, Harrison RV. Contralateral ear occlusion for improving the reliability of optoacoustic emission screening tests. Int J Otolaryngol. 2014;2014:248187. [DOI:10.1155/2014/248187]
23. Haddadzade Niri H, Rahbar N, Pourbakht A, Haghani H. Auditory Efferent System Influences the Auditory Overshoot Phenomenon- An Auditory Brainstem Response Study in Guinea Pigs. Basic Clin Neurosci. 2025;16(2):403-16. [DOI:10.32598/bcn.2021.1939.1]
24. Vishwakarma C, Mathur R, Sinha V, Vishwakarma R. Effects of background noise on transiently evoked otoacoustic emissions in newborn hearing screening. Indian J Otol. 2015;21(2):111-3. [DOI:10.4103/0971-7749.155296]
25. Kaveh M, Mirjalali SN, Shariat M, Zarkesh MR. Perinatal factors influencing the neonatal hearing screening results. BMC Pediatr. 2021;21(1):15. [DOI:10.1186/s12887-020-02476-0]
26. Morlet T, Hamburger A, Kuint J, Ari-Even Roth D, Gartner M, Muchnik C, et al. Assessment of medial olivocochlear system function in pre-term and full-term newborns using a rapid test of transient otoacoustic emissions. Clin Otolaryngol Allied Sci. 2004;29(2):183-90. [DOI:10.1111/j.0307-7772.2004.00786.x]
27. Abdala C, Keefe DH. Effects of middle-ear immaturity on distortion product otoacoustic emission suppression tuning in infant ears. J Acoust Soc Am. 2006;120(6):3832-42. [DOI:10.1121/1.2359237]
28. Prasher D, Ryan S, Luxon L. Contralateral suppression of transiently evoked otoacoustic emissions and neuro-otology. Br J Audiol. 1994;28(4-5):247-54. [DOI:10.3109/03005369409086574]
29. Kellam B, Bhatia J. Sound spectral analysis in the intensive care nursery: measuring high-frequency sound. J Pediatr Nurs. 2008;23(4):317-23. [DOI:10.1016/j.pedn.2007.09.009]
2. Salina H, Abdullah A, Mukari SZMS, Azmi MT. Effects of background noise on recording of portable transient-evoked otoacoustic emission in newborn hearing screening. Eur Arch Oto-Rhino-Laryngology. 2010;267(4):495–9. [DOI:10.1007/s00405-009-1080-y]
3. Zamiri Abdollahi F, Lotfi Y. Gender Difference in TEOAEs and Contralateral Suppression of TEOAEs in Normal Hearing Adults. Iranian Rehabilitation Journal. 2011;9(2):22-5.
4. Mazaheryazdi M, Sharafi MA, Akbari M, Choobdar FA. Comparing Auditory Brain Stem Responses and Transient Otoacoustic Emissions in Premature Infants with Auditory Developmental Delay: Evidence of Temporary Auditory Neuropathy. Iran J Child Neurol. 2023;17(4):35-44. [DOI:10.22037/ijcn.v17i4.42882]
5. Mazaheryazdi M, Akbari M, Abolhasan Choobdar F. Auditory and speech development in a 3-year-old boy with auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder. Aud Vestib Res. 2021;30(2):139-47. [DOI:10.18502/avr.v30i2.6099]
6. Khosravi N, Mazaheryazdi M, Kalani M, Khalesi N, Shakeri Z, Archang S, et al. Physiological and electrophysiological evaluation of the hearing system in low birth weight neonates treated with cholestin: a cohort study. Egypt J Otolaryngol. 2023;39:75. [DOI:10.1186/s43163-023-00425-z]
7. Kanji A, Khoza-Shangase K, Moroe N. Newborn hearing screening protocols and their outcomes: A systematic review. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2018;115:104-9. [DOI:10.1016/j.ijporl.2018.09.026]
8. Jacobson JT, Jacobson CA. The effects of noise in transient EOAE newborn hearing screening. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 1994;29(3):235-48. [DOI:10.1016/0165-5876(94)90170-8]
9. Sabbagh S, Amiri M, Khorramizadeh M, Iranpourmobarake Z, Nickbakht M. Neonatal Hearing Screening: Prevalence of Unilateral and Bilateral Hearing Loss and Associated Risk Factors. Cureus. 2021;13(6):e15947. [DOI:10.7759/cureus.15947]
10. Wallhagen MI, Strawbridge WJ, Shema SJ. The relationship between hearing impairment and cognitive function: a 5-year longitudinal study. Res Gerontol Nurs. 2008;1(2):80-6. [DOI:10.3928/19404921-20080401-08]
11. Dhar S, Hall III JW. Otoacoustic Emissions: Principles, Procedures, and Protocols. 2nd ed. San Diego: Plural Publishing, Inc; 2018.
12. Lopez-Poveda EA. Olivocochlear Efferents in Animals and Humans: From Anatomy to Clinical Relevance. Front Neurol. 2018;9:197. [DOI:10.3389/fneur.2018.00197]
13. Haddadzade Niri H, Pourbakht A, Rahbar N, Haghani H. Brainstem Representation of Auditory Overshoot in Guinea Pigs Using Auditory Brainstem Responses. Iran J Child Neurol. 2021;15(2):41-56. [DOI:10.22037/ijcn.v15i2.26241]
14. Guinan JJ Jr. Olivocochlear efferents: Their action, effects, measurement and uses, and the impact of the new conception of cochlear mechanical responses. Hear Res. 2018;362:38-47. [DOI:10.1016/j.heares.2017.12.012]
15. Gkoritsa E, Korres S, Segas I, Xenelis I, Apostolopoulos N, Ferekidis E. Maturation of the auditory system: 2. Transient otoacoustic emission suppression as an index of the medial olivocochlear bundle maturation. Int J Audiol. 2007;46(6):277-86. [DOI:10.1080/14992020701261405]
16. Abdala C, Mishra S, Garinis A. Maturation of the human medial efferent reflex revisited. J Acoust Soc Am. 2013;133(2):938-50. [DOI:10.1121/1.4773265]
17. Durante AS, Carvallo RM. Contralateral suppression of linear and nonlinear transient evoked otoacoustic emissions in neonates at risk for hearing loss. J Commun Disord. 2008;41(1):70-83. [DOI:10.1016/j.jcomdis.2007.05.001]
18. Chabert R, Guitton MJ, Amram D, Uziel A, Pujol R, Lallemant JG, et al. Early maturation of evoked otoacoustic emissions and medial olivocochlear reflex in preterm neonates. Pediatr Res. 2006;59(2):305-8. [DOI:10.1203/01.pdr.0000196739.16060.0a]
19. Campos Ude P, Hatzopoulos S, Kochanek K, Sliwa L, Skarzynski H, Carvallo RM. Contralateral suppression of optoacoustic emissions: input-output functions in neonates. Med Sci Monit. 2011;17(10):CR557-62. [DOI:10.12659/msm.881981]
20. Aly HA, Ahmed AM. Effect of Noise on Neonatal Vital Data and Behavior in NICU. Clin Med Diagn. 2016;6(1):1-6. [DOI:10.5923/j.cmd.20160601.01]
21. Lotfi Y, Movallali G. A Universal Newborn Hearing Screening in Iran. Iranian Rehabilitation Journal. 2007;5(1):8-11.
22. Papsin E, Harrison AL, Carraro M, Harrison RV. Contralateral ear occlusion for improving the reliability of optoacoustic emission screening tests. Int J Otolaryngol. 2014;2014:248187. [DOI:10.1155/2014/248187]
23. Haddadzade Niri H, Rahbar N, Pourbakht A, Haghani H. Auditory Efferent System Influences the Auditory Overshoot Phenomenon- An Auditory Brainstem Response Study in Guinea Pigs. Basic Clin Neurosci. 2025;16(2):403-16. [DOI:10.32598/bcn.2021.1939.1]
24. Vishwakarma C, Mathur R, Sinha V, Vishwakarma R. Effects of background noise on transiently evoked otoacoustic emissions in newborn hearing screening. Indian J Otol. 2015;21(2):111-3. [DOI:10.4103/0971-7749.155296]
25. Kaveh M, Mirjalali SN, Shariat M, Zarkesh MR. Perinatal factors influencing the neonatal hearing screening results. BMC Pediatr. 2021;21(1):15. [DOI:10.1186/s12887-020-02476-0]
26. Morlet T, Hamburger A, Kuint J, Ari-Even Roth D, Gartner M, Muchnik C, et al. Assessment of medial olivocochlear system function in pre-term and full-term newborns using a rapid test of transient otoacoustic emissions. Clin Otolaryngol Allied Sci. 2004;29(2):183-90. [DOI:10.1111/j.0307-7772.2004.00786.x]
27. Abdala C, Keefe DH. Effects of middle-ear immaturity on distortion product otoacoustic emission suppression tuning in infant ears. J Acoust Soc Am. 2006;120(6):3832-42. [DOI:10.1121/1.2359237]
28. Prasher D, Ryan S, Luxon L. Contralateral suppression of transiently evoked otoacoustic emissions and neuro-otology. Br J Audiol. 1994;28(4-5):247-54. [DOI:10.3109/03005369409086574]
29. Kellam B, Bhatia J. Sound spectral analysis in the intensive care nursery: measuring high-frequency sound. J Pediatr Nurs. 2008;23(4):317-23. [DOI:10.1016/j.pedn.2007.09.009]
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| Issue | Vol 35 No 1 (2026) | |
| Section | Research Article(s) | |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.18502/avr.v35i1.20577 | |
| Keywords | ||
| Auditory efferent system olivocochlear system newborns transient evoked otoacoustic emission distortion product otoacoustic emission | ||
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How to Cite
1.
Yarahmadi M, Haddadzade Niri H, Rahbar N, Mazaheryazdi MM, Bordbar A, Sharafi MA. Effect of Contralateral Ear Occlusion in Newborns on the Amplitude of Transient Evoked and Distortion-Product Otoacoustic Emissions in Noisy Environments. Aud Vestib Res. 2025;35(1):40-47.
