The properties of spontaneous and evoked acoustic emissions in neonates and children: a preliminary report.

Evoked acoustic emissions (EAEs) and spontaneous acoustic emissions (SAEs) recordings hold some promise as a fast, objective and non-invasive audiological procedure, especially in children. However, accurate interpretation in the emission response must be based on the basic properties of the emissions present in a younger age group. In so doing, the properties of emissions were investigated in 49 ears from 26 children, whose ages varied between 2 days and 10 years. EAEs could be recorded in all normal ears, but the incidence of long-duration EAEs decreased with age. There were no statistically significant variations in recording the EAEs detection threshold with age. The incidence of SAEs also decreased with age.