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Introduction: Hearing is an important factor in the processof learning to talk. Speech and hearing is important fordevelopment of interpersonal relationships. Index study aimsto screen high risk newborn for hearing loss by Transientevoked oto-acoustic emission (TEOAE) and Auditory brainstem evoked Response (ABER) technique and to identify therisk factor associated with hearing loss in neonates.Material and Methods: A total of 105 high risk neonates wererandomly selected from NICU of this hospital after stabilizingtheir clinical condition. All the neonates have undergoneTransiently evoked otoacoustic emissions. Neonates whopassed transiently evoked otoacoustic emissions test weresubjected to Auditory Brainstem Evoked Response (ABER)test for confirming the diagnosis of hearing loss.Results: Hearing assessment done in all 105 neonates anda total of 9 neonates were reported to be having hearingabnormalities, out of these 5 newborns had conductive hearingloss and 4 had sensorineural hearing loss. Low Birth weightand mechanical ventilation were observed significantlyassociated with diagnosis of hearing loss. No significantassociation of hearing loss was reported with gestational age,sex, infection, and associated diseases.Conclusion: Low Birth weight and mechanical ventilatorsupport were significantly associated with hearing loss.
RESUMO
Background: The aim of the study was to do universal hearing screening of all newborns using otoacoustic emission (OAE), to know the incidence and risk factors of hearing loss in neonates.Methods: This was a prospective observational study done in a tertiary care hospital in Mangalore city in Karnataka. 950 neonates were screened with distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) during the study period of one year from 2017 to 2018. A repeat test was done at one and a half months of age if the first test failed. Auditory brain stem evoked response (ABER) was performed at 3 months of age if both the tests failed. Babies with hearing loss were referred to ENT specialist for further management. Comparison of the variables was done by student's t test and Chi-square test. P-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: Out of the 950 newborns screened with DPOAE test, 204 (21.4 %) babies had abnormal screen either in single or both ears. 7 out of 204 (3.43%) babies had abnormal OAE on repeat testing at one and half months. 2 out of 7 babies (0.96 %) had significant hearing loss ABER was performed at 3 months of age.Conclusions: Early identification by screening of hearing loss prevents a significant public health concern. Early recognition and intervention prior to 6 months have a significant positive impact on development.