"Association of High Risk Factors and Hearing Impairment in Infants-A Hospital Based Study"
S Heramba Ganapathy1, A Ravi Kumar2, B Rajashekar3
1Dept of Speech Language and Hearing Sciences, SRIHER (DU), Chennai, 116 India.
Insights
Intrauterine infections, family history, and low Apgar scores are key risk factors for permanent infant hearing impairment. Identifying these factors early is crucial for intervention and better outcomes in infants.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Otolaryngology
- Genetics
Background:
- Permanent hearing impairment affects infant development.
- Identifying associated risk factors is crucial for early intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the association between various risk factors and permanent hearing impairment in infants.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 420 infants with and without permanent hearing impairment.
- Data collected through medical record review and parent interviews.
- Alternate sampling method used for control group selection.
Main Results:
- Significant associations found between hearing impairment and family history, consanguinity, intrauterine infection, postnatal infection, low Apgar score, craniofacial anomaly, and low birth weight.
- Intrauterine infection showed the strongest association (adj. OR 18).
- Family history (adj. OR 7.5) and low Apgar score (adj. OR 4.6) were also highly significant.
Conclusions:
- Several prenatal and postnatal factors significantly increase the risk of permanent hearing impairment in infants.
- Intrauterine infection is a primary risk factor requiring attention.
- Early identification and management of these risk factors can mitigate hearing loss in infants.
Abstract:
The aim of the study was to find the association of various risk factors with permanent hearing impairment in infants. A case-control study was designed on 420 infants with permanent hearing impairment and normal hearing. The case control ratio was 1:1. Alternate sampling method was used for selecting the control group. Review of medical records and parent interview was done to collect the information of risk factors. Family history(adj. OR 7.5; 95% CI 3, 14; P = 0.000), Consanguinity (adj. OR: 4; 95% CI 2,4; P = 0.000), intra uterine infection (adj. OR 18, 95% CI: 2.3-126.5, P = 0.000), post natal infection (adj. OR 3, 95% CI: 1.3-5, P = 0.004), low Apgar score (adj.OR: 4.6, 95% CI: 1.3-15), craniofacial anomaly (OR-4.6, 95% CI: 1.4-9.5, P = 0.005) and low birth weight (adj. OR: 2.3, 95% CI: 1.2-3.8) were significantly associated with hearing impairment. Among the risk factors, intra uterine infection was having highest significant association with permanent hearing impairment. This is followed by family history, low Apgar score, craniofacial anomaly, consanguinity, post natal infection and low birth weight.
