Korean J Pediatr.  2006 May;49(5):507-512. 10.3345/kjp.2006.49.5.507.

Neonatal hearing screening in a neonatal intensive care unit using distortion product otoacoustic emissions

• Kim DY
• Kim SS
• Kim CH
• Kim SC

• KMID: 2278560
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3345/kjp.2006.49.5.507

Abstract

PURPOSE: Early detection and intervention of hearing impairment is believed to improve speech and language development and behavior of children. The aim of this preliminary study was to determine the prevalence of hearing impairments, and to identify the association of risk factors relating to refer response in high risk neonates who were screened using distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE).
METHODS
The subjects included 871 neonates who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of the Pediatric Department in Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital from May, 2001 to December, 2004. They were screened using DPOAE. Based on DPOAE, we divided the neonates in two groups:'Pass' and 'Refer'. The differences in risk factors between the pass group and the refer group were analyzed.
RESULTS
The incidence of the refer group was 12.1 percent(106 out of 871). The bilateral refer rate was 5.4 percent(47 out of 871). And the unilateral refer rate was 6.7 percent(59 out of 871). Gender, birth place, family history of hearing loss, small/large for gestational age, obstetrical factor, hyperbilirubinemia and use of gentamicin were not statistically related to the refer rate. Statistically related to refer rate were birth weight, resuscitated neonates, Apgar score, craniofacial anomaly, mechanical ventilator application, sepsis, using of vancomycin(P<0.05). The prevalence of hearing impairment (> or = 60 dB) in this study was 2 percent(18 out of 871).
CONCLUSION
This study showed a higher prevalence of hearing impairment in high-risk neonates. Thus neonatal hearing screening should be carried out in high-risk neonates.

Keyword

Neonatal hearing screening; Distortion product otoacoustic emissions; Intensive care neonate

MeSH Terms

Apgar Score
Birth Weight
Child
Gentamicins
Gestational Age
Gyeonggi-do
Hearing Loss
Hearing*
Humans
Hyperbilirubinemia
Incidence
Infant, Newborn
Intensive Care, Neonatal*
Language Development
Mass Screening*
Prevalence
Residence Characteristics
Risk Factors
Sepsis
Ventilators, Mechanical
Gentamicins