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Published on: January 23, 2017
The potential risk factors and the identification of hearing loss in infants
Ashok Kumar Biswas1, S C Goswami, Dilip Kumar Baruah
1Department of ENT, Guwahati Medical College Hospital, Guwahati, Assam 32 India.
Insights
Hyperbilirubinemia, low Apgar scores, and TORCH infections are key risk factors for infant hearing loss. Early identification and follow-up are crucial for high-risk infants to prevent missed diagnoses.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Audiology
- Neonatology
Background:
- Infant hearing loss is a significant concern, affecting communication and development.
- The Joint Committee on Infant Hearing (JCIH) established high-risk criteria to guide early identification.
- Identifying specific risk factors is crucial for targeted screening and intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify potential risk factors for hearing loss in high-risk infants.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of current high-risk criteria in identifying hearing impairment.
- To inform follow-up strategies for infants at risk of developing hearing loss.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 490 high-risk infants (2 days to 6 months) underwent audiological evaluation over 3 years.
- Hearing screening utilized Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions (DPOAE).
- Infants failing DPOAEs were further assessed with Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) testing.
Main Results:
- 145 out of 490 high-risk infants (29.6%) were diagnosed with hearing loss.
- Hyperbilirubinemia was the most frequent risk factor identified.
- Low Apgar scores (0-4 at 1 min or 0-6 at 5 min) and TORCH infections were the next most prevalent risk factors.
Conclusions:
- Hyperbilirubinemia, low Apgar scores, and TORCH infections are significant risk factors for infant hearing loss.
- The study highlights the need to review and refine high-risk registers for infant hearing screening.
- Utilizing a combination of risk registers and audiological tests aids in timely diagnosis and management of hearing loss.
Abstract:
To identify potential risk factors for hearing loss from the infant with high risk criteria as guided by the Joint Committee on Infant Hearing (JCIH, 2000). 490 infants with age range of 2 days to 6 months who had undergone detailed audiological evaluation during for the period of 3 years at Gauhati Medical College Hospital were taken for the study. The hearing screening was performed on each infant using Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emission (DPOAE) testing. The infants who failed DPOAEs screening were followed up and Auditory Brainstem Response testing. Out of 490 high risk infants who had undergone detailed audiological evaluation 145 infants were found to be having hearing loss. Out of 145 infants 73 infants were male and 72 infants were female. The risk factor for hearing loss with the highest incidence was hyperbilirubenemia, Apgar scores of 0-4 at 1 min or 0-6 at 5 min was the second most prevalent risk factor, followed by TORCH infections. This study suggests the need for review of high risk register that is used along with the physiological and electrophysiological hearing test to screen the infants. The high risk register remains helpful in determining follow up plans so that children who may develop late onset of hearing loss will not be missed. Being aware of which risk factors are more likely to cause hearing loss in infants would be helpful to plan for follow up these children.
