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Published on: January 23, 2017
Newborn hearing screening on infants at risk
Christine Ohl1, Liliane Dornier, Cécile Czajka
1ENT Department, University Hospital of Besançon, Besançon Cedex, France.
International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology
|October 3, 2009
Summary
Newborn hearing screenings identified 4.55% of at-risk infants with hearing loss, enabling early management for 60 children. Improved parental education and universal screening are recommended due to significant loss to follow-up and combined risk factors.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Audiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Newborn hearing impairment affects a significant number of infants.
- Early detection and intervention are crucial for optimal developmental outcomes.
- Identifying infants at risk allows for targeted screening protocols.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of a targeted newborn hearing screening program for at-risk infants.
- To identify risk factors associated with hearing impairment in newborns.
- To assess the rate of diagnosis and early management of hearing loss.
Main Methods:
- A two-step screening process using automated oto-acoustic emissions (AOAE) and auditory brainstem response (ABR).
- Screening initiated on the third day of life for infants identified as high-risk.
- Referral to specialized audiologists for confirmed cases (ABR threshold ≥ 40dB).
Main Results:
- 4.55% of 1461 screened infants were diagnosed with hearing impairment.
- Severe birth asphyxia, neurological disorders, and specific syndromes were significant risk factors for sensorineural hearing loss.
- Craniofacial anomalies were significant factors for conductive hearing loss.
- Nearly 10% of infants were lost to follow-up.
Conclusions:
- The targeted screening facilitated early management for 60 deaf children.
- High rates of loss to follow-up highlight the need for better parental and paramedic education.
- Universal newborn screening is suggested to improve detection rates.
- The combination of multiple risk factors significantly increases the risk of hearing impairment.
