Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 11, 2026
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
Universal screening of newborns to detect hearing impairment--is it necessary?
1Department of Pediatrics, Army Hospital R&R, Delhi Cantt 10, New Delhi, India.
Insights
Universal newborn hearing screening is crucial, with higher hearing loss incidence in at-risk infants. Identifying risk factors like birth asphyxia and low birth weight is key for early intervention.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care
- Audiology
- Public health
Background:
- Neonatal hearing screening programs are not universally implemented, despite recommendations.
- Early detection of hearing loss is critical for infant development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To prospectively evaluate hearing loss in newborns using transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE) and brainstem evoked response audiometry (BERA).
- To identify risk factors associated with hearing loss in neonates.
- To assess the importance of universal newborn hearing screening.
Main Methods:
- Prospective cohort study of 500 neonates (2009-2010) in a tertiary care center.
- TEOAE as the primary screening tool, with BERA for confirmation.
- Comparison of hearing impairment incidence between 'at risk' and 'no risk' groups.
Main Results:
- Overall hearing impairment incidence was 8 per 1000 screened.
- Incidence was significantly higher in the 'at risk' group (49.18 per 1000) compared to the 'no risk' group (2.27 per 1000).
- Identified risk factors included postnatal infections, birth asphyxia, low birth weight, and prematurity.
Conclusions:
- High incidence of hearing impairment necessitates universal newborn hearing screening.
- Screening 'at risk' groups may be a feasible initial approach considering economic constraints.
Background:
In contrast to the recommendations of the Joint Committee on Infant Hearing, neonatal hearing screening programs are still not universally available.
Objectives:
To prospectively evaluate the presence of hearing loss in all newborn babies delivered in our hospital during study period using the transient evoked otoactoustic emission as the primary screening tool followed by confirmation with brainstem evoked response audiometry before six months of age and to determine risk factors responsible for hearing loss.
Design:
A prospective study of nonrandomized cohort.
Setting:
Nursery, Postnatal ward and NICU of Tertiary care center.
Participants:
500 neonates (439: not at risk; 61: at risk) from a total of 610 neonates born in between 2009 and 2010.
Measurements:
Incidence of hearing impairment in the "at risk" and "no risk" group was compared, using proportion test.
Main Outcome Measure(S):
Incidence of hearing loss in newborns both "at risk" and in "no risk" group, risk factors responsible for hearing loss, importance of universal newborn hearing screening.
Results:
The overall incidence of hearing impairment was 8 per 1000 screened. The incidence in "no risk" and "at risk" group was 2.27 per 1000 screened and 49.18 per 1000 screened respectively. Statistically significant difference in the incidence of hearing impairment between the two groups. (P<0.05; Proportion Test) was seen. Common risk factors identified were culture positive postnatal infections, birth asphyxia, low birth weight, and prematurity.
Conclusions:
A high incidence of hearing impairment warrants the implementation of universal newborn hearing screening. Considering the economic limitations of our country we may employ screening of "at risk" groups initially.
