ABSTRACT
The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of hearing impairment by automated auditory brain stem response [AABR] in newborns admitted to an intensive and intermediate care unit and to analyze the associated risk factors. An observational cross-sectional study was conducted between January 2005 and January 2006. 834 newborns [62% boys and 38% girls] were assessed. Newborns had a mean [SD] gestational age of 36 [2.1] weeks with a mean [SD] birth weight of 2950 [1250] grams. The presence of the following neonatal pathologies was investigated: craniofacial malformations, hyperbilirubinemia [total bilirubin 20 mg/dl for all newborns], neonatal asphyxia, congenital infections, septicemia, birth weight [