CLINICAL CASE 3 OF 8

A NICU graduate who failed AABR

Vignette

An infant who spent three weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit is referred after failing an automated ABR screen. On diagnostic testing, OAEs are present and of normal amplitude in both ears, yet the ABR is grossly abnormal. Behavioural responses to sound are inconsistent.

Findings

0204060801002505001k2k4k8kFrequency (Hz)
○ Right — PTA 43 dB (Moderate)✕ Left — PTA 47 dB (Moderate)
Pure-tone audiogram companion. dB HL increases downward, following clinical convention. Illustrative thresholds — not recorded patient data.
0 ms20 ms
— Normal ear— this case
Simulated TEOAE comparison. Educational signal model — not recorded patient data.

Diagnostic question

Present OAEs with an absent or grossly abnormal ABR is the signature of which condition?

References