Otoacoustic emissions in universal hearing screening: which day after birth should we examine the newborns?

Transiently evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs) have been widely used in universal newborn hearing screening programs. Although there is consensus with regard to the avoidance of early screening, especially during the first hours after birth, the optimum testing day is not yet unanimously accepted. The aim of the present study was to compare the 'pass-refer' results between 4 groups of newborns tested during the 4 postbirth days and determine the most appropriate day for assessing newborn hearing.