Association between failure in otoacoustic emissions and risk indicator for hearing loss

Abstract

ABSTRACT Purpose: to describe the results of a neonatal hearing health program and verify whether there is an association between the presence of risk indicators for hearing loss and failure in the tests and diagnosis. Methods: a one-cohort, observational, retrospective study with secondary data contained in a spreadsheet concerning the family’s sociodemographic condition, clinical history, and examination results of 7,800 participants who were submitted to hearing screening between 2010 and 2016. Absolute frequency and percentages were used in the description of the first and second stages. In the association between risk indicators and failures in the otoacoustic emissions, the odds ratio, confidence interval, and significance level at 0.5% were used. Results: the risk indicators in 8 out of the 12 infants presented with hearing loss were ototoxic medication and intensive care unit (ICU) stay, whereas the likelihood of failure in the otoacoustic emissions occurred along with 11 indicators. The likelihood of a diagnosis of hearing loss was 13 times greater when there was a risk indicator, 18 times greater when an ototoxic medication had been used, and 16.62 times greater when they stayed in ICUs. Conclusion: the results show that knowing the indicators leads to considering the actions the team in charge should take.