74. Screening high risk babies with Auditory Brainstem Responses and Multiple Auditory Steady State Responses

Abstract

Objective Evaluate the results of the hearing screening program organized and applied in the “William Soler” Paediatric Hospital, targeting multiple high-risk groups. Material and methods The children were evaluated using click Auditory Brainstem Responses (ABR with Multiple Auditory Steady State Responses (MSSR) (0.5 and 2 kHz). The possible causes of hearing impairment were examined comparatively. Results The results shows an overall incidence of permanent hearing losses of 3,3% in the high risk population with referral rates of around 10%. The common perinatal causes of hearing losses were low birth weight; foetal suffering and the use of ototoxic drugs have remained very frequent. Conclusions The incidence of hearing impairment and the referral rates were quite comparable to those reported in the high risk population by similar screening protocols. It is found some variations in the current causes of hearing losses when comparing the early and late periods (before and after 1990) of the screening program. Significance This hearing screening program with Auditory Brainstem Responses (ABR) and Multiple Auditory Steady State Responses (MSSR) shows a high grade of efficiency and sensibility in programs to early detection of hearing deafness.