ABR audiometry in evaluation of hearing organ in neonates from high-risk pregnancy

In a group of 130 tested newborns, pathological brain stem responses derived from acoustic stimulus was achieved in 28 (21.5%) cases. 85.2% of newborns from this group of birthed babies comparised a high-risk pregnancy group. Based on the criteria of evaluating ABR parameters of the achieved responses, three categories of hearing dysfunctions were distinguished: conductive hearing loss in 7 cases, sensori-neural in 12 cases and neurological dysfunctions in 9 cases. Control testing which was carried out after three months following the initial evaluation, allowing for the elimination of 12 children in a group of 19 for the further testing and observation. This represents 42.8% of children initially evaluated as possessing a hearing disorder and 9.2% from the total of those tested. Results obtained during successive control testing were carried-out in a 3-6 month period following the initial examination an allowed for decisions to be made. Conforming to: 4 children (3.07%) were supplied with hearing aids and rehabilitation begun, 1 child (0.76%) was referred to rehabilitation the deaf, whereas the 2 remaining children (1.53%) are currently under neurological observations.