Education in hearing health and child research through otoacoustic emissions

Abstract

Hearing loss negatively affects the development of children, making early intervention essential. National Law No. 25415/2001 establishes the right of every child to have their hearing ability studied at an early age, making hearing tests mandatory before the third month of life. In 2021, we implemented a project of Compromiso Social Estudiantil called "Education in hearing health and research in children through otoacoustic emissions". The aim of the project was to carry out actions related to the extension, at first, carrying out the hearing test called Otoacoustic Emissions (OEAs) on children  from 0 to 3 years of age and, secondly, the training of advanced students of the Degree in Fonoaudiología of the Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, about the promotion of hearing health, neonatal hearing screening and the OEAs test. We tested 29 patients, of whom 3 failed the test, in all cases adults in charge were told about the procedure to follow. The project encompassed 156 students, most of whom completed all of the activities and shared this extension experience. These types of projects allow identifying problems, demands in society and, as professionals, teachers and researchers, of taking actions to improve the community's quality of life.