A prospective study for hearing screening of 4356 newborns by transient evoked oto-acoustic emissions and brainstem evoked response audiometry: a study of high risk factors for hearing loss

Abstract

Background: A child’s normal speech and language development depends on the ability to hear. Early detection of hearing loss by screening at or shortly after birth and appropriate intervention are critical to speech, language and cognitive development. Objectives were to describe socio-epidemiological profile of newborns for hearing loss screening by transient evoked oto-acoustic emissions (TEOAE) and brainstem evoked response audiometry (BERA) in Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Ranchi, Jharkhand, India during 18 months period (June 2015- November 2016), and to study association between hearing loss and risk factors.Methods: This prospective study was done on 4356 newborns for hearing screening by TEOAE in maternity ward and NICU and BERA in those noted “refer” on retest TEOAE at RIMS, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India during the period of 18 months (June 2015 - November 2016). Follow- up done by visits and phone calls. Templates were generated in MS excel sheet and data analysis was done using SPSS software (version 20).Results: Study showed 3.90/1000 newborns were noted “refer” on retest TEOAE. Hearing loss (BERA- Fail) is slightly more common in males (2.20/1000 newborns), of rural areas (2.44/1000 newborns), tribal ethnicity (2.75/1000  newborns) and those delivered by lower section caesarean section (LSCS) (4.47/1000 newborns). Hearing loss noted in 2.07/1000 newborns. Among high risk newborns 21.41/1000 newborns were noted “refer” on retest TEOAE and 11.53 were found BERA fail.Conclusions: Hearing loss was 21.71 times more common in newborns associated with high risk factors, mainly low birth weight and preterm newborns.