Newborn hearing screening: what are we missing?

The objectives of the study were to demonstrate hearing status in newborns at first screening by Transient Evoked Otoacoustic Emissions and to find out the relationship between abnormal hearing screening and known risk factors. This study was conducted in the department of neonatology of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University in collaboration with department of otolaryngology and department of obstetrics and gynaecology. This prospective observational study included a cohort of 168 neonates from Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and neonatal Nursery (Minimal care unit). All were screened for hearing impairment using Transient Evoked Otoacoustic Emissions in out-patient department of otolaryngology by a trained audiologist before discharge from hospital. Risk factors analysed were according to the criteria of American Academy of Pediatrics. Of the total neonates screened, Refer rate was 32.7% irrespective of presence or absence of risk factors. Small for gestational age, in-utero infections, ototoxic medications, birth weight < 1500, sepsis/meningitis, hyperbilirubinemia were found to be significant risk factors (p < 0.0001). It can be recommended that hearing screening should be universally done for all newborns.