Objective: To explore the influence of hypoxemia on the hearing of children with childhood obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS).
Method: Auditory brainstem response (ABR) and distortion-product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) was recorded in 68 ears and 60 ears respectively of children suffering from OSAHS with "A" tympanogram. Meanwhile, ABR and DPOAE was also recorded in 30 controls of children with "A" tympanogram.
Result: There was no statistical difference between the mild OSAHS group and the control group in the latency of wave I, III and V, the interval between wave I and III, III and V, I and V. There was significant difference between the moderate and severe OSAHS group and the control group in the delayed latency of wave I. There was significant difference between the mild OSAHS group and the control group in the amplitudes of DPOAE at 8 kHz. There was significant difference between the moderate and severe OSAHS group and the control group in the amplitudes of DPOAE at 6 kHz and 8 kHz.
Conclusion: Cochlear function was affected when AHI > or = 10/h. ABR and DPOAE could be used to detect the early damagement of auditory function in childhood OSAHS.