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Visual and Hearing Impairments After Preterm Birth

Mikko Hirvonen1,2, Riitta Ojala2,3, Päivi Korhonen2,3

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Central Finland Health Care District, Jyväskylä, Finland; mikko.hirvonen@ksshp.fi.

Pediatrics
|July 19, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Sensory impairments like hearing loss and visual impairment are more common in preterm infants, with risks increasing with earlier birth. Intracranial hemorrhage and convulsions are key risk factors for these neurosensory disabilities.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatalogy
  • Public Health
  • Ophthalmology
  • Audiology

Background:

  • Preterm birth is a significant risk factor for neurodevelopmental issues.
  • Sensory impairments, including hearing loss and visual disturbances, can have long-term impacts on child development.
  • Understanding the incidence and risk factors of these impairments is crucial for early intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the incidences of sensory impairments across different gestational age groups: very preterm, moderately preterm, late preterm, and term infants.
  • To identify and establish risk factors associated with neurosensory disabilities in infants.

Main Methods:

  • A national register study analyzing live-born infants in Finland from 1991 to 2008.
  • Exclusion of infants with major congenital anomalies, early mortality, or missing data.
  • Determination of incidences of hearing loss, visual impairments, and retinopathy of prematurity by gestational age, with risk factor analysis.

Main Results:

  • Incidences of sensory impairments decreased significantly with increasing gestational age at birth.
  • Intracranial hemorrhage and convulsions were the most prominent risk factors for both hearing loss and visual impairment.
  • Very preterm and late preterm births were associated with increased risk of hearing loss.
  • Very preterm, moderately preterm, and late preterm births were associated with increased risk of visual impairment.

Conclusions:

  • Gestational age at birth is a critical determinant of sensory impairment risk, with lower gestational ages posing higher risks.
  • Intracranial hemorrhage and convulsions are significant predictors of sensory disabilities in infants.
  • Targeted monitoring and preventative strategies for preterm infants, particularly those experiencing intracranial hemorrhage or convulsions, are warranted.
Abstract

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