Newborn Hearing Screening Results of Duzce Province in the Western Black Sea Region

Abstract

Aim: We aimed to evaluate the results of newborn hearing screening (NHS) conducted at Düzce Atatürk State Hospital, and review the results with the relevant literature. Material and Methods: The hearing screening results of 20071 newborns whose hearing screening was conducted at Düzce Atatürk State hospital between January 2011 and December 2018 were evaluated retrospectively in this study. Refugees were not included in the study. Newborns without risk factors who came to the first test were evaluated with transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE). If they failed from the first screening test were evaluated again 15 days later with TEOAE. Newborns who failed the second screening test were evaluated a third time with ABR. Newborns with risk factors were first evaluated with auditory brainstem response (ABR).The risky newborns who failed the first screening test were evaluated second time with ABR. Results: Hearing loss was present in 62 (0.30%) of the 20071 newborns and was unilateral in 35 (0.17%) and bilateral in 27 (0.13%) subjects. Conclusion: For the rehabilitation of babies with hearing loss, their treatment should be started as early as possible. Newborn hearing screening tests are a screening program that has been successfully applied in our country for many years and enables the detection of babies with hearing loss. With this screening program, babies with hearing loss can be detected at an early stage and their treatment and rehabilitation can be provided. The results of our study are consistent with other hearing screening results from our country.