Hearing screening of neonates at risk

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to screen infants admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for hearing loss.

METHODS: One hundred and thirty newborns admitted to NICU were screened for hearing loss using otocaustic emission (OAE). Tympanometry was performed using Grason Stadler Incorporation (GSI) 37 and auditory brain response (ABR).

RESULTS: Ninety-six of the infants had known risk factors such as prematurely, low birth weight, hyperbilirubinemia, asphyxia and congenital abnormalities. Out of 130 infants 80 passed the OAE test, 50 had to be rescreened, and 19 had ABR. Only 13 were found with moderate to severe hearing loss, 13.5% of at the risk infants.

CONCLUSION: Hearing aids were provided from the age of 6 months, for 7 of the hearing impaired children. Parents of other children refused hearing aids and thought the child would talk when older, although they were full informed regading their children's hearing loss. Early identification and early intervention gives chances for infants to acquire speech and language. Parent's awareness will be stressed upon.