OBJECTIVE HEARING DISORDER DIAGNOSTIC METHODS IN YOUNGER CHILDREN

Objective: comparative analysis of objective hearing function examination methods in children and identification of the factors affecting examination results. Patients and methods. We studied hearing in 473 children of 3 months – 5 years of age with sensorineural hearing loss and surdity. The control group was comprised of 30 children with normal hearing. Along with the standard clinical examination of ENT-organs, we performed tympanometry and reflexometry, examination of delayed evoked otoacoustic emission and reflection-source frequency otoacoustic emission, registered short-latency auditory evoked potentials and auditory steady state response (ASSR) in all children. We also conducted behavioral audiometry in children of 2-3 years of age and play audiometry in older children. Results. Various hearing loss risk factors are revealed in anamneses of most children (77%) with sensorineural hearing loss and surdity. The most sensitive (Se = 100%) and specific (Sp = 98.3%) method of diagnosing hearing level in children is the registration of short-latency brainstem auditory evoked potentials. Conclusions. The most reliable results of hearing thresholds identification are obtained when classic psychoacoustic hearing function examination methods are combined with modern electrophysiological examination method and hearing loss grade verification using surdopedagogic tests.