EVOKED AND SPONTANEOUS OTACOUSTIC EMISSIONS - A COMPARISON OF NEONATES AND ADULTS

Evoked otoacoustic emissions (EOAEs) and spontaneous otoacoustic emiss ions (SOAEs) were compared between neonates and adults. Several differ ences were seen for EOAEs: (i) the occurrence of EOAEs was significant ly greater in adults than in neonates, and in neonates it increased wi th extra-uterine age; (ii) the high frequency EOAE intensity was great er in neonates than in adults; (iii) the EOAE intensity was significan tly greater in neonates than in adults. No age-related differences for SOAEs were found: (i) age was not significantly related to the presen ce/absence of SOAEs in neonates or adults; (ii) the occurrence of SOAE s was, however, significantly greater in females than in males in both neonates and adults.