Exploration of High Frequency Otoacoustic Emissions and Developmental Language Disorders

Among the objective non-invasive audiological explorations the distorsion products of otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE) allow to quickly assess the function of the cochlear outer hair cells (without the active participation of the subject). This technique is used in newborn screening. While humans are able to perceive sounds in a frequency range of 20Hz to 20kHz, routine clinical audiological assessment is only concerned with frequencies between 1-4kHz. This obscures the importance of high frequencies (HF) which can be easily assessed by DPOAEs. In young children, the perception of these high frequencies could also play an important role in language acquisition. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the relationship between subtle high-frequency hearing impairment, as assessed by the DPOAE (non-invasive, rapid and simple audiological test), and language delay or difficulties in a pre-, peri- and school-age pediatric population.