Table 1.

Comparison of OAE and AABR Newborn Hearing Screening Technologies

	Otoacoustic Emissions Testing	Automated Auditory Brainstem Response Testing
Advantages	Simple testing technique (relatively minimal training needed to perform OAE testing); Cheaper than AABR screening; Fast	Superior evaluation of the auditory system (vs assessment of outer hair cell function alone as in OAE); Likely provides better detection of infants with auditory neuropathy;
Disadvantages	Limited assessment of the auditory system; Impacted by middle ear fluid issues; Potentially impacted by vernix or wax in the ear canal; Optimal to perform in a quiet environment;	Requires more operator knowledge than OAE testing; Potential for electrical and noise artifact yielding poor screening; Requires sleeping or quiet infant; Optimal to perform in a quiet environment; Requires longer times than OAE screening; Typically more costly than OAE screening;