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Conditions Conducive to the Screening Auditory Brainstem Response Test: A Pilot Study.
Gretchen Sackmann1, Marc Drake2, Cecille Sulman3,2
1Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Children's Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, gsackmann@childrenswi.org.
Summary
Automated auditory brainstem response (AABR) screening for hearing loss in premature infants is feasible in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), even with some forms of respiratory support. Invasive ventilation, however, hinders accurate AABR results.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care
- Audiology
- Pediatric screening
Background:
- Early hearing loss detection in premature infants is crucial for optimal speech and hearing development.
- Limited understanding exists regarding the earliest age and conditions for automated auditory brainstem response (AABR) screening in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine environmental factors and conditions that facilitate AABR screening in premature infants within the NICU.
- To identify the youngest gestational age at which AABR screening can be successfully performed in this population.
Main Methods:
- AABR screening was conducted on premature infants in a Level IV NICU using Natus ALGO 3i technology.
- Infants were screened under various conditions including different types of respiratory support (isolette, CPAP, high-flow nasal cannula, nasal cannula, neurally adjusted ventilatory assist, tracheostomy tube) and room air.
Main Results:
- Out of 40 infants, 73% had successful AABR screenings.
- The youngest successful screening was at 33 weeks and 5 days gestational age.
- Screening success rates were highest with room air (100%) and nasal cannula (100%), and lowest with bubble CPAP (17%). Invasive ventilation resulted in inconclusive screenings.
Conclusions:
- AABR screening is achievable in the NICU across diverse conditions, including non-invasive respiratory support.
- Invasive ventilation significantly impedes accurate AABR screening.
- Successful screening at younger gestational ages suggests potential for earlier identification of hearing loss, aligning with Joint Committee on Infant Hearing guidelines.
