Postnatal hearing loss: a study of children who passed neonatal TEOAE hearing screening bilaterally
Maoli Duan1, Wen Xie1,2, Linda Persson1,2
1Division of Ear, Nose and Throat Diseases, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet and Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck & Audiology and Neurotology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Insights
Universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) can miss later-onset hearing loss. Children passing initial screenings may still develop hearing impairment, highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring, especially for those with risk factors.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Audiology
- Genetics
Background:
- Universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) aims for early diagnosis of pediatric hearing loss.
- UNHS may not detect all permanent pediatric hearing impairments, including those with later onset.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify children who passed UNHS but later developed hearing loss.
- To analyze the characteristics and timing of hearing loss in this cohort.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of UNHS data from Karolinska University Hospital, Sweden.
- Analysis of demographic data, diagnostic evaluations, audiograms, and hearing rehabilitation enrollment for 63 children.
Main Results:
- 63 children diagnosed with hearing loss after passing UNHS were identified.
- Average age at diagnosis was 3.3 years, and 3.9 years at enrollment in habilitation.
- Common reasons for evaluation included preschool screenings, parental concerns, and speech/language delays.
Conclusions:
- Passing UNHS does not guarantee the absence of future hearing loss.
- Children with risk factors are particularly susceptible to delayed-onset hearing loss.
- Ongoing audiological monitoring is crucial for children, even after passing newborn screenings.
Background:
Universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) contributes to the early diagnosis of hearing loss. However, not all permanent pediatric hearing impairments can be identified by UNHS.
Aims/Objective:
To investigate children who have successfully passed the UNHS, but have later-onset hearing loss at an early stage.
Methods:
UNHS of children, was reviewed retrospectively from databases at Karolinska University Hospital, Sweden. Gender, age, the reason for contact, the first contact and the most recent audiogram, the hearing diagnosis, the degree of hearing loss when they were enrolled in hearing rehabilitation, and the hearing aids they used were analysed.
Results:
63 children who had passed the UNHS at birth and were diagnosed with a hearing impairment at a later stage were included in the study. The average age was 3.3 and 3.9 years old when the children were diagnosed and were finally enrolled in the hearing habilitation, respectively. The reasons for diagnostic evaluation of a suspected hearing loss at present study are preschool hearing tests at the Child Health Care Centres, parents suspect, and/or delayed speech and language development.
Conclusions And Significance:
Our findings suggest that a passed UNHS does not exclude a future delayed onset of hearing loss, particularly in children with risk factors.
