Targeted newborn hearing screening in the neonatal intensive care unit of Assiut University Hospital

Abstract

Abstract Background Early detection of congenital hearing loss (HL) and appropriate intervention is essential to minimize its dramatic impact. Target-based newborn hearing screening (TNHS) was initially targeted high-risk register (HRR) newborn. The advance techniques in neonatology in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) lead to decrease mortality among low birth weight and preterm infants, but significant morbidities including hearing loss persist. In this study, we aimed to assess the prevalence of hearing loss and the percentage of different risk factors among the HRR neonates admitted to NICU at Assiut University Hospital. Results The prevalence of hearing loss among the study group is 1%. The most common risk factor present between the study group was prematurity associated with the low birth weight (57%). The combination of preterm and low birth weight has statistically significant effect on hearing loss (p < 0.006). There was statistically significant difference in the pass rate of the transient evoked otoacoustic emission (TEOAE) frequencies included in the screening program. The highest pass rate 91% and 85% was at 4 KH and 3 KH, respectively, while the least pass rate was at 1 KH (11.5%). Conclusion TEOAE screener is safe, noninvasive, and doesn’t require sedation and cost-effective method in the newborn hearing screening at NICU. For HRR, it is better to do screening before hospital discharge so allowing enough time for comorbidities of the neonate to improve. Neonatal hearing screening in high-risk neonates in NICU allows early identification of children with hearing loss with early intervention.