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Effect of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus on Newborn Hearing: A Systematic Review
1Department of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, Amity Medical School, Amity University Haryana, Gurugram, India.
Insights
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) increases the risk of hearing loss in newborns. Infants born to mothers with GDM show higher hearing screening referral rates, indicating a need for early detection.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Health
- Audiology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is linked to adverse neonatal outcomes.
- The impact of GDM on newborn hearing sensitivity remains under-explored.
Approach:
- A systematic literature review was performed using PubMed, Scopus, and CHINAL databases.
- Keywords included "gestational diabetes," "diabetic pregnancies," "hearing loss," "hearing impairment," and "hearing disorder."
- Seven relevant articles were selected and analyzed.
Key Points:
- Newborns from GDM pregnancies exhibit a higher prevalence of hearing loss.
- Higher referral rates were observed in the initial hearing screenings for GDM infants.
- Infants of diabetic pregnancies are at increased risk for bilateral, particularly sensorineural, hearing loss.
Conclusions:
- GDM is associated with an elevated risk of hearing impairment in newborns.
- Early detection and intervention through multidisciplinary collaboration are crucial for affected infants.
Objective:
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with several adverse health conditions in newborns such as preterm birth, hyperbilirubinemia, macrosomia, respiratory distress. However, the effect of GDM on the hearing sensitivity of newborns is still unclear. The study aimed to explore the effect of GDM on newborn hearing. The study aimed to explore the effect of GDM on newborn hearing.
Method:
A systematic search was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and CHINAL databases. Keywords like "gestational diabetes," "diabetic pregnancies," "hearing loss," "hearing impairment," and "hearing disorder" were used to form a search string. The Rayyan software was used for screening procedure. The full-length articles were shortlisted, extracted, and appraised.
Results:
The 7 articles were included in the review. Findings suggest that hearing loss is more prevalent in newborns with GDM pregnancies than in non-GDM pregnancies. In addition, OAE findings were "referred during the first hearing screening of newborns with GDM pregnancies." The refer rate of the first bilateral hearing screening was higher for newborns with GDM pregnancies. Furthermore, children of diabetic pregnancies were found to be at risk of bilateral hearing loss, particularly sensorineural in nature.
Conclusion:
The present systematic review suggests an association between GDM and a higher refer rate in hearing screening. A multidisciplinary collaboration between gynecologists, pediatricians, and audiologists can smoothen the early detection of hearing loss in newborns with GDM pregnancies, leading to early intervention and better clinical outcomes to improve the quality of life of affected newborns.
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