Targeted Newborn Hearing Screening: A Hospital based Observational Study

ABSTRACT

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.