Postnatal hearing loss: a study of children who passed neonatal TEOAE hearing screening bilaterally

Abstract

Background: Universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) contributes to the early diagnosis of hearing loss. However, not all permanent pediatric hearing impairments can be identified by UNHS. Aims/objective: To investigate children who have successfully passed the UNHS, but have later-onset hearing loss at an early stage. Methods: UNHS of children, was reviewed retrospectively from databases at Karolinska University Hospital, Sweden. Gender, age, the reason for contact, the first contact and the most recent audiogram, the hearing diagnosis, the degree of hearing loss when they were enrolled in hearing rehabilitation, and the hearing aids they used were analysed. Results: 63 children who had passed the UNHS at birth and were diagnosed with a hearing impairment at a later stage were included in the study. The average age was 3.3 and 3.9 years old when the children were diagnosed and were finally enrolled in the hearing habilitation, respectively. The reasons for diagnostic evaluation of a suspected hearing loss at present study are preschool hearing tests at the Child Health Care Centres, parents suspect, and/or delayed speech and language development. Conclusions and significance: Our findings suggest that a passed UNHS does not exclude a future delayed onset of hearing loss, particularly in children with risk factors.