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Published on: February 2, 2015
Prenatal ultrasound exposure and association with postnatal hearing outcomes
Claude F Harbarger1, Paul M Weinberger, Jack C Borders
1Department of Otolaryngology / Head and Neck Surgery, Georgia Regents University, 1120 15th Street, BP 4109, Augusta, GA 30912, USA. charbarger@gmail.com.
Insights
This study found no link between increased prenatal ultrasound exposure and hearing loss in newborns. In fact, more third-trimester ultrasounds were associated with a higher chance of passing newborn hearing screenings.
Area of Science:
- Medical Imaging
- Pediatrics
- Audiology
Background:
- Prenatal ultrasound use is increasing globally.
- Potential impacts of widespread prenatal ultrasound on fetal development, particularly auditory development, require investigation.
- Understanding these impacts is crucial for public health given the scale of ultrasound use.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate a potential correlation between prenatal ultrasound exposure and newborn hearing outcomes.
- To determine if increased exposure to prenatal ultrasounds is associated with hearing loss in infants.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort analysis of 100 children undergoing newborn hearing screening.
- Data collected included prenatal ultrasound exposure and other relevant variables.
- Analysis focused on correlations between hearing screening results and ultrasound exposure levels.
Main Results:
- Higher numbers of total and third-trimester prenatal ultrasounds were significantly associated with a greater likelihood of passing newborn hearing screening (p<0.001).
- Younger gestational age at birth also correlated with a higher likelihood of passing the hearing screen.
- No other tested variables showed statistical significance in relation to hearing outcomes.
Conclusions:
- The study found no evidence to support a correlation between increased prenatal ultrasound exposure and hearing loss.
- Infants with more third-trimester ultrasounds demonstrated a higher probability of passing newborn hearing screens.
- Results highlight the statistical principle that correlation does not imply causation.
Objective:
Prenatal ultrasound exams have become increasingly frequent. Although no serious adverse effects are known, the public health implications would be enormous should adverse effects on auditory development be shown. This study looks to establish a possible correlation between hearing loss and increased prenatal ultrasound exposure.
Design:
Retrospective cohort analysis.
Setting:
Tertiary academic referral center.
Methods:
A retrospective review of 100 children undergoing newborn hearing screening was conducted. Extensive data collection was performed, and this data was analyzed for a potential correlation between failure of newborn hearing screening and increased prenatal ultrasound exposure, as well as for a potential correlation of other variables with hearing loss.
Main Outcome Measures:
Postnatal hearing outcomes.
Results:
A higher number of both total and 3rd trimester ultrasound exams as well as a younger gestational age at birth were all found to be significantly associated with a higher likelihood of passing the newborn hearing screen (p<0.001 for each). No other factors were found to reach statistical significance.
Conclusions:
Our results show that there is no correlation between a higher level of prenatal ultrasound exposure and hearing loss. Indeed, infants who had more prenatal ultrasounds in the third trimester were more likely to pass their screening hearing exams. The finding that children receiving more prenatal ultrasounds have a higher likelihood of passing newborn hearing screens serves as an excellent reminder of the classic statistics rule that correlation does not imply causation.
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