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Neonatal hearing screening in Benin City
Amina L Okhakhu1, Titus S Ibekwe, Ayebo S Sadoh
1ENT Department, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria.
Insights
Congenital hearing loss affects 6.5% of newborns in Benin City, highlighting the critical need for early hearing screening in developing nations. Prompt intervention is essential to prevent developmental delays and speech acquisition issues.
Area of Science:
- Medical Research
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Congenital hearing loss is a significant health issue impacting child development.
- Early detection and intervention are crucial for speech and cognitive development.
- Neonatal hearing screening is vital, especially in developing regions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the crude prevalence of congenital hearing loss in newborns in Benin City.
- To emphasize the importance of neonatal hearing screening for early intervention.
Main Methods:
- Distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE) were used to screen 400 neonates in Benin City.
- Screening was conducted using a handheld otoacoustic machine (MAICO 8172).
- Data analysis was performed using SPSS 11.
Main Results:
- A total of 400 neonates were screened.
- Ninety neonates (22.5%) were referred for further evaluation.
- Bilateral hearing loss was identified in 6.5% of neonates, and unilateral loss in 16%.
Conclusions:
- The study indicates a high prevalence of bilateral neonatal hearing impairment in Benin City.
- Confirmation and intervention are necessary for affected neonates.
- The findings support the necessity of universal newborn hearing screening in developing countries.
Objective:
Congenital hearing loss is a major health care problem that tends to retard the developmental milestones of children. It takes early detection and intervention to avoid a permanent loss in acquisition of speech and cognitive functions. Hence, the importance of hearing screening in all newborns especially in the developing world for accurate statistics and early intervention. Therefore, this work was aimed at detecting the crude prevalence of congenital hearing loss among the newborns in Benin City.
Methodology:
Consecutive neonates at designated immunization centers in Benin City metropolis were screened for hearing loss via the detection and analysis of distortion product otoacoustic emissions from both ears. The handheld otoacoustic machine model MAICO 8172 was employed and the outcome results presented in tables. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 11.
Results:
A total of 400 neonates (218 males and 182 females) were screened for the presence of otoacoustic emission in both ears. Ninety neonates (22.5%) p<0.05 were referred. Bilateral hearing loss was seen in 26 (6.5%) whereas 64 (16%) had unilateral loss.
Conclusions:
The screening tests suggest a high crude prevalence (6.5%) of bilateral neonatal hearing impairment in Benin City necessitating confirmation and intervention. The study fortifies the need for hearing screening among all new born in developing countries.
