Australian Government - Department of Health and Ageing

Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC)

Application 1002

oto-acoustic emission audiometry

Application No.

1002
Application NameOto-acoustic emission audiometry (OAEA)
Advisory PanelsDr John Primrose
(Chair and Medical Advisor to the MSAC)
Dr Harvey Coates
(Royal Australasian College of Physicians nominee)
Mrs Jean Feder
(Deafness Forum nominee)
Professor Bill Gibson
(Australasian College of Surgeons nominee)
Mr Roger Lovegrove
(Australian Hearing Services nominee)
Dr David Starte
(Australasian College of Physicians nominee)
Date Received by MSAC Secretariat1 August 1997
Stage 1 - EligibilityEligible
Stage 2 - AssessmentCompleted
Stage 3 - Formulation of Advice to the MinisterThis assessment was considered by the MSAC at the 19 May 1999 meeting.

The MSAC recommended that on the strength of evidence pertaining to OAEA, public funding should be supported for this procedure for the detection of PCHI in groups of children at high risk due to the following factors:
- admission to a NICU
- family history of hearing impairment
- perinatal infection (either suspected or confirmed)
- birth weight <1.5kg
- craniofacial deformity
- birth asphyxia
- chromosomal abnormality, including Down syndrome
- exchange transfusion

In addition, it is recommended that OAEA be preceded by a specialist assessment to exclude middle ear pathology.
Stage 4 - DecisionEndorsed by the Minister for Health and Ageing 9 August 1999
Stage 5 - ImplementationImplemented