Prevalence of hearing loss in very low birth weight neonates

Abstract

Objectives: to evaluate the prevalence of hearing alterations in very low birth weight patients in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre and to study the variables that can be related to alterations of the hearing acuity. Methods: a transversal study was carried out. The study included all very low birth weight neonates admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre from September 1, 2000 to January 31, 2002. All patients were submitted to distortion product otoacoustic emission tests at hospital discharge. When the test showed alterations, it was repeated 30 days later. However, when the same patient presented otoacoustic emission alterations in both tests, he/she was submitted to the auditory brain response testing. The result of this test was considered abnormal from 35 dB NA. Results: we studied 96 neonates. Six children presented alteration in the distortion product otoacoustic emission test as well as in the auditory brain response test. Children's mean age was 31.5 ± 2.6 weeks, their birthweight was between 640 g and 1,500 g, and 57.3% of the patients were female. The gestational age and the Apgar score of 5 minutes were inferior in the group presenting abnormal results of otoacoustic emission and auditory brain response tests compared to the other groups, reaching bordering significance. All the remaining aspects investigated did not present any statistically significant difference. Conclusions: the prevalence of hearing loss in the very low birth weight neonates cared for at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of the HCPA was 6.3%, and bordering significance associations related to gestational age and 5 minutes Apgar score were observed.

Predictors of Otoacoustic Emission Test in Newborns: A Prospective One Year Study in Ahvaz, Iran

“…Low birth weight was the other significant predictor of OAE failure in our study that was in line with Onoda 3 , Berg 16 and Pereira 18 . This could be described by risk indicators in low birth weight infants, possibly suffered from asphyxia and in need of long term mechanical ventilation support, ototoxic antibiotic use in these infants may be inevitable to protect from infection and meningitis 19 . There was not statistically significant association between positive family history of hearing loss and hearing loss; which was in contradiction of Pereira 18 , where screening 502 term newborn, showed low/small weight for gestational age (SGA) is one of the most frequent risk factors for auditory alterations.…”

Risk factors and prevalence of newborn hearing loss in a private health care system of Porto Velho, Northern Brazil

“…Hospitalization in the NICU has been related to childhood hearing loss ( 2 , 21 - 23 ) , as well as the use of ototoxic drugs ( 2 , 23 ) . Among the RIHL identified in this study, admission to the NICU, the use of ototoxic drugs, and family history of hearing loss were the most frequent.…”

“…A internação em UTIN tem sido relacionada à perda auditiva na infância ( 2 , 21 - 23 ) , bem como o uso de medicamentos ototóxicos ( 2 , 23 ) . Dentre os IRDA identificados neste estudo, a internação em UTIN, o uso de medicamentos ototóxicos e ahistória familiar de deficiência auditiva na infância foram os mais recorrentes.…”

Transient Evoked Otoacoustic Emissions and High Risk Register in Neonates

“…The low TEOAEs amplitude values across all frequencies in the HRR group suggested more vulnerability of outer hair cells in neonates with risk factors, even with the presence of response. This indicated the possibility of sub clinical damage to cochlear cells caused by tissue hypoxia, acidosis, and immature metabolic function, hyperbilirubinemia, ototoxic drugs, which are often administered to these newborns because of coexisting disease [19].…”