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Updated: Jul 10, 2026
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Behavioral Assessment of Hearing in 2 to 4 Year-old Children: A Two-interval, Observer-based Procedure Using Conditioned Play-based Responses
Published on: January 23, 2017
[Newborn hearing screening program: association between hearing loss and risk factors]
Priscila Karla Santana Pereira1, Adriana de Souza Martins, Márcia Ribeiro Vieira
1Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil. priksp@yahoo.com.br
Pro-Fono : Revista De Atualizacao Cientifica
|October 16, 2007
Summary
Newborn hearing loss is more common in preterm infants, especially those in the ICU. Lower gestational age and birth weight increase the risk of hearing screening failure.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care
- Audiology
- Public health
Context:
- Hearing loss in newborns is a significant concern.
- Early detection is crucial for intervention.
- Hospital São Paulo initiated a study to assess auditory alterations in newborns.
Purpose:
- To determine the prevalence of auditory alterations in newborns.
- To investigate correlations between hearing loss and birth weight, gestational age, and risk factors.
Summary:
- A retrospective analysis of 1696 newborns (648 preterm, 1048 term) evaluated auditory function using Transient Otoacoustic Emissions, cochleal-palpebral reflexes, and acoustic imittance tests.
- Sensorineural hearing loss was significantly more prevalent in preterm infants (3.1%) than term infants (0.82%). Conductive hearing loss was most common in both groups.
- Risk factors like family history, syndromes, low gestational age (<30 weeks), and low birth weight (<1500g) were strongly correlated with hearing screening failures.
Impact:
- Preterm infants, particularly those in the ICU, have a higher incidence of hearing loss.
- Gestational age and birth weight are critical predictors of hearing screening outcomes.
- Identifying at-risk infants allows for timely intervention and management of hearing impairment.
