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Middle ear effusion and newborn hearing screening
Hanin Karawani1, Wisam Matanis2, Shorook Na'ara2
1Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel. hkarawani@staff.haifa.ac.il.
Insights
Congenital middle ear effusion (MEE) often causes newborn hearing screening failures. This condition is persistent, with a low spontaneous resolution rate, necessitating further follow-up for conductive hearing loss.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Audiology
- Otolaryngology
- Neonatal Screening
Background:
- Middle ear effusion (MEE) is a common cause of failed newborn hearing screening.
- MEE can lead to conductive hearing loss, requiring extended follow-up.
- Understanding the long-term outcome of congenital MEE is crucial for effective management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the resolution rate and long-term fate of middle ear effusion in newborns who failed initial hearing screening.
- To assess the persistence of conductive hearing loss attributed to congenital MEE at a 1-year follow-up.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of medical records for newborns born between 2012-2013.
- Data extraction included Universal Newborn Hearing Screening (UNHS) results and follow-up audiological evaluations.
- Focus on infants diagnosed with conductive hearing loss due to MEE.
Main Results:
- 1.5% of 9527 newborns failed UNHS; 46 were diagnosed with MEE-related conductive hearing loss.
- Spontaneous MEE clearance occurred in 26% of cases.
- 57% had persistent effusion requiring further management, including ventilation tubes (22%) or continued monitoring (35%). 17% were lost to follow-up.
Conclusions:
- Congenital middle ear effusion causing UNHS failure and conductive hearing loss demonstrates significant persistence.
- Resolution rates for congenital MEE are lower compared to non-congenital MEE.
- Prolonged follow-up is essential for infants with congenital MEE.
Purpose:
Middle ear effusion (MEE) is one of the reasons for screening failure and may require prolonged follow-up due to conductive hearing loss. We aimed to examine at 1-year follow-up, the fate of MEE.
Methods:
From medical charts, computerized data were collected retrospectively of newborns born in the years 2012-2013 in Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa city, Israel, who failed the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening (UNHS), and follow-up hearing evaluation data were extracted.
Results:
Of 9527 newborns born in 2012-2013 in our institution, 144 [1.5%] failed the UNHS, and 46 were eventually diagnosed with conductive hearing loss caused by MEE. Spontaneous MEE clearance was recorded in 12 [26%], while 26 [57%] patients had persistent effusion that required further follow-up (10 [22%] required insertion of ventilation tubes and 16 [35%] were referred for further follow-up); 8 [17%] were lost to follow-up.
Conclusion:
Congenital MEE causing conductive hearing loss and UNHS failure is persistent and resolves at lower rates than non-congenital MEE.
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