Evoked otoacoustic emissions (EOAE) remain intraindividually similar in repeated measurements. After application of medication for general anesthesia no significant changes of EOAE could be seen. Damping of amplitude and energy, mostly seen in the late phase of general anesthesia, might be caused by possible middle ear pressure changes from nitrous oxide. The recording of EOAE under general anesthesia provides an additional method in objective infant hearing evaluation and expands our diagnostic tools in those cases when children do not cooperate.
