Long-term follow-up of otitis media with effusion in neonatal hearing screening
Nina Standaert1, Elke Loos2, Nicolas Verhaert2
1University Hospitals of Leuven, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Belgium.
Insights
Conductive hearing loss (CHL) from otitis media with effusion (OME) in newborns often resolves spontaneously within a year, especially without underlying conditions. Infants with congenital issues may experience longer recovery times and require interventions.
Area of Science:
- Neonatology
- Audiology
- Pediatric Otolaryngology
Background:
- Universal neonatal hearing screening (UNHS) identifies conductive hearing loss (CHL) due to otitis media with effusion (OME).
- High referral rates for OME-related CHL can cause undue burden.
- Standardized protocols are needed to manage OME-related CHL detected by UNHS.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze long-term audiological and medical characteristics of OME-related CHL in neonates.
- To establish a standardized protocol for managing OME-related CHL following UNHS.
- To reduce unnecessary clinical, emotional, and financial burdens associated with OME-related CHL referrals.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective study of neonates with OME-related CHL referred after UNHS (2013-2021).
- Assessment of follow-up, auditory tests, referral side, birth month, hearing loss degree, pathologies, risk factors, time to normalization, and ventilation tube need.
- Utilized MAICO devices for UNHS at the University Hospital of Leuven.
Main Results:
- Stable incidence of OME-related CHL from 2013-2021.
- 52.3% of referred infants with OME showed spontaneous hearing recovery.
- Longer hearing normalization time and higher ventilation tube rates (74.4%) in infants with underlying congenital pathologies.
Conclusions:
- Hearing recovers spontaneously within a year for most infants without underlying conditions.
- Infants with congenital disorders have prolonged hearing recovery and increased need for surgical intervention (ventilation tubes).
- Implementation of a standardized UNHS protocol is crucial for managing OME-related CHL.
Objectives:
Increased neonatal referral rate of conductive hearing loss (CHL) related to otitis media with effusion (OME) following universal neonatal hearing screening (UNHS) may cause an unnecessary clinical, emotional, and financial burden. This study analyzes the long-term, audiological, and medical characteristics of CHL associated with OME in neonates in order to establish a standardized protocol following technology-driven improvements in detection and referral rates in UNHS.
Methods:
A retrospective study of all neonates with OME-related CHL referred to the University Hospital of Leuven (Belgium) after failing UNHS with the MAICO devices between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2021 was performed. Follow-up consultations, auditory tests, referral side, birth month, hearing loss degree, underlying pathologies and risk factors, time to normalization, and need for ventilation tubes were assessed.
Results:
The incidence of CHL related to OME was stable between 2013 and 2021. Of all referred infants with OME, 52.3 % demonstrated spontaneous recovery. The average time to hearing normalization was significantly longer in children with underlying congenital pathologies compared to those without. Moreover, 74.4 % of these children received ventilation tubes compared to 32.0 % of children without underlying pathologies. No correlation was found between the incidence of OME-related CHL with either a hearing loss degree, admission to neonatal intensive care, or history of a nasogastric feeding tube.
Conclusions:
In children who failed UNHS due to OME, hearing recovers spontaneously without surgical intervention in 2/3 of the infants without underlying conditions within one year. In children with underlying congenital disorders, the time to hearing recovery is longer and the risk for surgical intervention is higher, underlining the need for implementing a UNHS standardized protocol.
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