Evaluating a prediction model for infant hearing loss

Abstract

The presence of any one of four independently predictive risk factors in infants who did not pass newborn hearing screen was associated with a 50% rate of hearing loss; having three or more was associated with a 90% rate of hearing loss. Knowing that an infant is at high risk of hearing loss can motivate parents to follow up with diagnostic auditory brainstem response testing so that early identification can lead to early intervention.

Maternal and Placental Factors Associated with Congenital Hearing Loss in Very Preterm Neonates

“…Indeed, neonates in our study were delivered at earlier GA and had lower birth weight than those in the studies showing a significant association between prematurity and hearing loss. 15,29,30 Likewise, our finding that low Apgar scores at 1 minute and 5 minutes were not associated with "refer" on the NHS test or SNHL differs from the findings of previous studies. 15,29 The same explanation may apply because 1-minute and 5-minute Apgar scores are directly inversely related to GA and birth weight.…”

“…15,29,30 Likewise, our finding that low Apgar scores at 1 minute and 5 minutes were not associated with "refer" on the NHS test or SNHL differs from the findings of previous studies. 15,29 The same explanation may apply because 1-minute and 5-minute Apgar scores are directly inversely related to GA and birth weight. 32 Similar to low Apgar scores, umbilical artery pH, the most objective parameter reflecting fetal metabolic condition at birth, was not associated with "refer" on the NHS test or SNHL.…”

“…28 In the literature, low GA at birth and low birth weight as indicators of prematurity have been reported to be important risk factors for "refer" on the NHS test or hearing loss. 15,29,30 However, we found that neither GA nor birth weight was associated with an abnormal NHS result and SNHL, which is in agreement with results of other studies that utilized multivariable analyses. 12,31 The reason for this discrepancy is not clear, but it may be related to different cutoffs for low GA used during the enrollment.…”

Low Apgar scores at both one and five minutes are associated with long‐term neurological morbidity

“…The most common long‐term neurological impairment was sensorineural defects, corresponding to incidence rates previously obtained in Finland among preschool children . Earlier studies have shown that a five‐minute Apgar score of less than seven has been associated with infant hearing loss . Similar associations have been described with central auditory impairment and poor cochlear function .…”

Inflammatory and Immune Proteins in Umbilical Cord Blood: Association with Hearing Screening Test Failure in Preterm Neonates

“…Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is one of the most common long-term disabilities worldwide in preterm infants, with an incidence of 0.7–17.5% for very preterm newborns (<32 weeks) [ 1 – 3 ]. Given the high prevalence and clinical relevance of SNHL in preterm neonates, the early detection and proper treatment of SNHL are important for normal speech development.…”