Hearing Screening in Children with Suspected Hearing Loss at a Tertiary Care Centre of Eastern Uttar Pradesh

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Audiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Hearing loss in children can significantly impact development.
• Early detection and intervention are crucial for managing childhood hearing impairment.
• Tertiary care centers play a vital role in diagnosing and managing complex pediatric cases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the utility of distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) for hearing screening in children with suspected hearing loss.
• To understand the screening experience in a tertiary care setting in eastern Uttar Pradesh, India.
• To assess the prevalence of hearing issues among referred pediatric patients.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study involving 96 children referred for suspected hearing loss.
• Utilized distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) testing as the primary screening modality.
• Data collected from July 2021 to June 2022 at a tertiary care center.

Main Results:

• Out of 96 children, only 26.04% (25) passed the DPOAE screening.
• A significant majority, 57.29% (55), received a 'refer' result in both ears.
• 16.67% (16) had a 'refer' result in one ear, indicating unilateral hearing concerns.

Conclusions:

• DPOAE is a practical, cost-effective, and convenient tool for pediatric hearing screening.
• The high 'refer' rate underscores the prevalence of hearing issues in the studied pediatric population.
• Universal newborn hearing screening programs utilizing OAE technology are recommended for early identification and management.