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Hearing screening outcomes in pediatric critical care survivors: a 1-year report
Pattita Suwannatrai1, Chanapai Chaiyakulsil2
1Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University, Pathumthani, Thailand.
Insights
Pediatric critical care survivors have a high rate of hearing problems, with nearly 30% showing abnormal screening results. Infants under 12 months and those with genetic conditions are at increased risk for hearing loss.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric critical care
- Audiology
- Neonatal screening
Background:
- Hearing loss is a serious complication for pediatric critical care survivors.
- Limited research exists on hearing screening for these children beyond the neonatal period.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of abnormal hearing screening using TEOAE in pediatric critical care survivors.
- To identify factors associated with abnormal hearing screening results.
Main Methods:
- A single-center, prospective, observational study.
- Included otoscopy and TEOAE screening before hospital discharge.
- Data analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square, and logistic regression.
Main Results:
- 28.3% of 92 children had abnormal TEOAE responses.
- Younger children (median age 10 months) were more likely to have abnormal responses.
- Increased risk associated with age under 12 months (aOR 3.07) and genetic conditions (aOR 6.95).
Conclusions:
- High prevalence of abnormal TEOAE screening in pediatric critical care survivors, particularly those under 12 months.
- Age and genetic conditions are significant risk factors for hearing problems.
- Further research is needed to fully understand hearing issues in this population.
Background:
Hearing loss is a potentially serious complication that can occur after surviving a critical illness. Study on screening for hearing problems in pediatric critical care survivors beyond the neonatal period is lacking. This study aimed to identify the prevalence of abnormal hearing screening outcomes using transitory evoked otoacoustic emission (TEOAE) screening in children who survived critical illness and to find possible associating factors for abnormal hearing screening results.
Methods:
This study was a single-center, prospective, observational study. All children underwent otoscopy to exclude external and middle ear abnormalities before undergoing TEOAE screening. The screening was conducted before hospital discharge. Descriptive statistics, chi-square, and logistic regression tests were used for data analysis.
Results:
A total of 92 children were enrolled. Abnormal TEOAE responses were identified in 26 participants (28.3%). Children with abnormal responses were significantly younger than those with normal responses with a median age of 10.0 months and 43.5 months, respectively (P<0.001). Positive association with abnormal responses was found in children younger than 12 months of age (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 3.07; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06-8.90) and children with underlying genetic conditions (adjusted OR, 6.95; 95% CI, 1.49-32.54).
Conclusions:
Our study demonstrates a high prevalence of abnormal TEOAE screening responses in children surviving critical illness, especially in patients younger than 12 months of age. More extensive studies should be performed to identify the prevalence and associated risk factors of hearing problems in critically ill children.
