Introduction: The application of the CE-Chirp® stimulus has been one of the proposals for universal neonatal hearing screening, but its results must be reliable and compatible with existing techniques.

Objective: The results obtained in the automated auditory brainstem response (AABR) with the results obtained in conventional ABR were compared.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study carried out over a period of six months. 41 infants born in a public hospital in São Paulo state with an average age of three months were enrolled in the study. AABR with the CE-Chirp® stimulus was initially performed, followed by the conventional ABR for comparison.

Results: 23 infants (56%) were males and 18 (44%) were females, 31 presented risk indicators for hearing loss. 38 (92%) presented normal results in both ears while three (7%) presented altered results in the AABR. 33 (80%) infants presented normal results in both ears while eight (19%) presented altered results in the conventional ABR. Therefore, five infants had a satisfactory result in AABR, but they had some degree of hearing loss identified by conventional ABR.

Conclusion: False-negative rates were observed in the AABR. Although this thecnique is strongly recommended in infants at risk for hearing loss and in those who failed in the screening by otoacoustic emissions, our results suggest the need for assessments in the sensitivity of AABR equipment currently in use.