Hearing Outcomes in the Audiology Department of a Children Hospital

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Neonatology
• Audiology

Background:

• Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) incidence is 1-3/1000 in healthy neonates, rising to 2-4/100 in high-risk infants.
• Hearing impairment is a significant consequence of prematurity, with prevalence inversely related to gestational age and birth weight.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the incidence of hearing impairment across various infant and child populations.
• To identify and evaluate risk factors associated with hearing loss in neonates and children.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of hearing impairment incidence in different groups: normal term infants, premature infants, infants with risk factors, children with syndromes, and children with speech disorders.
• Evaluation of risk factors including gestational age, birth weight, ototoxic medications, intensive care unit (ICU) stay, congenital infections, and family history.

Main Results:

• Premature infants (<37 weeks gestational age) and those with low birth weight (<2.5 kg) exhibit a higher incidence of hearing impairment.
• Key risk factors for hearing impairment in premature infants include ototoxic medications, very low birth weight, and intensive care unit treatment (low Apgar score, mechanical ventilation).
• Congenital infections and family history, while frequent, showed less significance as risk factors compared to prematurity and ICU care. Children with speech disorders did not show a higher incidence of hearing impairment.

Conclusions:

• Gestational age and birth weight are critical determinants of hearing impairment risk in infants.
• Specific interventions and monitoring are crucial for high-risk infants, particularly those born prematurely or requiring intensive care.
• Speech disorders in children are not strongly associated with a higher prevalence of underlying hearing impairment.