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

Juliana Santos De Oliveira,Virgínia Braz Da Silva,Liliane Barbosa Rodrigues,Fernanda Soares Aurélio

doi:10.1590/s0103-05822013000300005

Juliana Santos De Oliveira, Virgínia Braz Da Silva + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/s0103-05822013000300005

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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of hearing loss and to analyze the results of newborn hearing screening and audiological diagnosis in private health care systems. METHODS Cross-sectional and retrospective study in a database of newborn hearing screening performed by a private clinic in neonates born in private hospitals of Porto Velho, Rondônia, Northern Brazil. The screening results, the risk for hearing loss, the risk indicators for hearing loss and the diagnosis were descriptively analyzed. Newborns cared in rooming in with their mothers were compared to those admitted to the Intensive Care Unit regarding risk factors for hearing loss. RESULTS: Among 1,146 (100%) enrolled newborns, 1,064 (92.8%) passed and 82 (7.2%) failed the hearing screening. Among all screened neonates, 1,063 (92.8%) were cared in rooming and 83 (7.2%) needed intensive care; 986 (86.0%) were considered at low risk and 160 (14.0%) at high risk for hearing problems. Of the 160 patients identified as having high risk for hearing loss, 83 (37.7%) were admitted to an hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit, 76 (34.5%) used ototoxic drugs and 38 (17.2%) had a family history of hearing loss in childhood. Hearing loss was diagnosed in two patients (0.2% of the screened sample). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of hearing loss in newborns from private hospitals was two cases per 1,000 evaluated patients. The use of ototoxic drugs, admission to Intensive Care Unit and family history of hearing loss were the most common risk factors for hearing loss in the studied population.

Highlights

The integrity of the auditory system is one of the prerequisites for the acquisition and the proper development of oral language, since it is through interaction with others that children acquire language, understand their universe, their peers, develop and organize thoughts and feelings, and gain knowledge[1].Hearing impairment is defined as a decreased ability to perceive sound, in which there is a deviation or change in structures or in their function, outside the limits of normality[2]
In Brazil, there are few population-based studies involving neonates; one study conducted in the municipality of São Paulo found a prevalence of 2.4/1,000(6) and a study conducted in the municipality of Porto Velho, showed a prevalence of 2/1,000(7) NBs
Newborn hearing screening (NHS) comprises detecting hearing impairment in newborns, and it should be performed by electrophysiological measurements, such as brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP) and/or otoacoustic emissions (OAE)(2,8)

Summary

Introduction

Hearing impairment is defined as a decreased ability to perceive sound, in which there is a deviation or change in structures or in their function, outside the limits of normality[2]. It represents a public health problem[3] due to its impact on the citizen, and that is why hearing loss in neonates should be detected early, being the newborn hearing screening program, indispensable[4]. The diagnosis of childhood hearing loss should contemplate, besides the hearing screening procedures, the research of risk indicators for hearing loss (RIHL) and the follow-up of all infants who present such indicators[9], as it will allow appropriate planning of the prevention of hearing loss

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Discussion

Conclusion