Risk Factors for Failed Newborn Otoacoustic Emissions Hearing Screen

Objective To identify any socioeconomic, demographic, neonatal, and perinatal factors that may be associated with failing the otoacoustic emissions (OAE) newborn hearing screen. Study Design A retrospective chart review was performed looking at hearing screens performed on 1272 newborn infants by OAE testing. Socioeconomic, demographic, neonatal, and perinatal factors were reviewed to determine association with failing the OAE newborn hearing screen. Results Our results demonstrate that Hispanic race was significantly associated with failing the newborn OAE hearing screen with an odds ratio of 2.54 (CI = 1.56-4.14, P = .0002). Family history of hearing loss was also significantly associated with failing the newborn hearing screen. Newborns with a family history of hearing loss were 13 times more likely to fail the newborn screen (odds ratio = 13.63, CI = 4.09-45.43, P < .0001). Conclusions Hispanic race and family history of hearing loss are statistically significant risk factors for failing the newborn OAE hearing screen.