Prevalence of Hearing Loss among Preterm Very‐Low‐Birth‐Weight Babies

Abstract

Objectives: Determine the prevalence of hearing impairment and auditory neuropathy among preterm very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) babies at 1 year corrected age. Methods: Twenty babies were recruited. The subjects underwent transient evoked otoacoustic emission (TEOAE) and automated auditory brainstem response (AABR) at 34 to 36 weeks while they were still in the neonatal intensive care unit. The subjects were followed up with brainstem evoked response (BSER) at 3 months and 1 year of corrected age. A patient was considered to have hearing impairment if either 1 or both ears failed the test. The risk factors for hearing impairment are noted. Results: Thirty-five percent (14 out of 40 ears) failed TEOAE and 12.5% (5 out of 40 ears) failed AABR screen. Two babies defaulted BSER appointment. BSER at 3 months corrected age showed 5.5% (1 out of 18) with bilateral profound sensorineural hearing loss, 16.7% (3 out of 18) bilateral mild conductive hearing loss, and 77.8% (14 out of 18) with normal hearing. At 1 year of corrected age 5.5% (1 out of 18) had profound sensorineural hearing loss, 5.5% (1 out of 18) mild conductive hearing loss, and 89% (16 out of 18) had normal hearing. There was no prevalence of auditory neuropathy or progressive hearing loss in this study. Conclusions: Those VLBW babies achieved maturity of hearing at 3 months corrected age, therefore no repeat BSER is required at 1 year.