Purpose
: To analyze the results of Neonatal Hearing Screening with Automated Auditory Brainstem Response conducted using different technologies, by studying the sensitivity, specificity, and time taken in the assessment.
Methods
: Two hundred newborns were assessed with the Automated Auditory Brainstem Response using detection method in the frequency domain and stimulus repetition rate at 93 Hz. All subjects were submitted to the diagnostic Auditory Brainstem Response, which was considered the gold standard for the results found. During screening, newborns were classified according to the Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (Brazelton Scale), in order to analyze the time taken in the assessment.
Results
: Two of the 200 newborns screened failed both the Automated Auditory Brainstem Response and the diagnostic Auditory Brainstem Response, and 198 passed both tests. Sensitivity and specificity were of 100%. The mean assessment time was 32.9 seconds. The newborns were divided into three groups according to the Brazelton Scale. The assessment took a mean of 18.94 seconds for Group 1, 33.43 seconds for Group 2, and 49.24 seconds for Group 3.
Conclusion
: The Automated Auditory Brainstem Response with different technologies presents high sensitivity and specificity with a considerably short time to determine the presence or absence of response, and the newborn’s state of consciousness influences the time taken in the assessment.
Infant; Newborn; Hearing tests; Neonatal screening; Evoked potentials; Auditory; Consciousness
