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Hearing screening of infants at King Fahd Hospital of the University
A Ashoor1, M el-F Baraka, K Al-Umran
1Departments of ENT, and Pediatrics, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, King Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
Insights
Early hearing impairment detection in babies is crucial for preventing developmental delays. This study screened 181 infants, finding high-risk babies had a significantly higher failure rate, supporting widespread screening.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Audiology
- Neonatal Care
Background:
- Early detection of hearing impairment in neonates is vital to prevent speech and developmental delays.
- Screening programs are essential for identifying infants at risk.
- Prompt intervention can mitigate long-term physical and developmental consequences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of hearing screening in well-baby and high-risk infant populations.
- To determine the failure rates and validity of screening methods in Saudi Arabia.
- To recommend the implementation of a standardized hearing screening protocol.
Main Methods:
- A 12-month screening of 151 well babies and 30 high-risk infants (6-12 months old) at King Fahd Hospital of the University.
- Utilized the modified Ewing-Stykar test for initial screening.
- Employed tympanometry, stapedial reflex, and brainstem evoked response audiometry (BERA) for diagnostic confirmation in specific groups.
Main Results:
- Identified a 4.6% failure rate in well babies and a 43.3% failure rate in high-risk infants.
- Achieved a validity index of 71.4% for well babies and 92.3% for high-risk infants.
- Demonstrated a higher prevalence and detection rate of hearing impairment in the high-risk group.
Conclusions:
- The study supports the efficacy of the implemented hearing screening protocol.
- High-risk infants exhibit a significantly greater likelihood of hearing impairment.
- Recommends the adoption of this screening approach in all neonatal and high-risk clinics across Saudi Arabia.
Abstract:
The detection of hearing impairment in neonatal life and prompt intervention prevents the hazards of physical and developmental delay in speech. During a 12-month period between April 1987 and March 1988, the hearing of 151 well babies and 30 high-risk babied aged 6 to 12 months attending the pediatric clinics of King Fahd Hospital of the University (KFHU), Al-Khobar, were screened. The modified Ewing-Stykar test was performed on all babies. Tympanometry, stapedial reflex, and brainstem evoked response (BERA) were carried out in the well babies who failed the screening test and in all high-risk babies. The failure rate was found to be 4.6% and 43.3% and the validity index 71.4% and 92.3% for the well and high-risk babies, respectively. The results of this limited study encourages us to recommend the implementation of this screening test in all the well baby and the high-risk baby clinics in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
