Follow-Up Results of Newborns after Hearing Screening at a Training and Research Hospital in Turkey

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:This study aimed to present the follow-up results of newborns after universal newborn hearing screening at a Training and Research Hospital in İstanbul and to determine the ages of diagnosis, hearing aid fitting, and cochlear implantation in newborns with hearing loss. MATERIALS and METHODS:A total of 5985 newborns were screened between December 2009 and August 2011 using the transient evoked otoacoustic emission test as the first two steps and automated auditory brainstem response (ABR) test as the third step. Newborns who failed the screening tests were referred to a tertiary hospital for clinic ABR and were followed up at least for 2 years. RESULTS:Of 5985 newborns, 5116 (85.5%) completed the screening. Of 53 newborns who were referred to a tertiary hospital, 13 (0.25%) had a hearing impairment. The mean age of diagnosis, hearing aid fitting, and cochlear implantation were 6.1, 9.5, and 24.5 months, respectively. Among the risk factors for hearing impairment, neonatal intensive care (60%) and consanguineous marriage (50%) were the most common ones that were encountered. CONCLUSION:Our results were consistent with the national literature. Consanguineous marriage may be a risk factor for hearing impairment where it is commonly practiced because consanguineous marriage is significantly high in parents of deaf children. The ages of diagnosis and hearing aid fitting are still beyond the recommended ages by the Joint Committee on Infant Hearing.

Transition to motherhood in women with an infant with special care needs

“…However, no special applications are made in these surveys for congenitally abnormal infants and their mothers in Turkey (Karabulut et al 2016). Programmes that include a rigorous preparation process for the birth of a baby with a congenital illness as well as programmes that include postnatal follow-up and evaluation are needed (Kayhan 2016;Tezel et al 2014). This situation is a big gap in Turkey's health policies.…”

Determination of Risk Factors on Newborn Hearing Loss

“…21 The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends completing hearing screening for all newborn infants within the first month of life, diagnosing those with hearing loss within three months and introducing them into training programs within six. 6 Yılmazer et al 22 reported the age of diagnosis of 53 infants as 6.1 months and the age upon hearing aid receival as 9.5 months in their studies. In our study, it was observed that the infants referred to the reference center were diagnosed between four and 12 months (average 5.6 months) and had hearing aids administered between six and 13 months (mean 6.3 months) and included in the education programs.…”

Maternal Anxiety Associated with Newborn Screening

“…The screening of these congenital metabolic diseases is carried out by pricking the baby's heel and drawing a few drops of blood onto a piece of absorbent paper (1,4). The prevalence of congenital hearing loss is 1-3 in 1000 neonates (5)(6)(7). Neonatal hearing screening is performed using otoacoustic emission (OAE) and auditory brainstem response (ABR) tests (6)(7)(8)(9).…”

“…The prevalence of congenital hearing loss is 1-3 in 1000 neonates (5)(6)(7). Neonatal hearing screening is performed using otoacoustic emission (OAE) and auditory brainstem response (ABR) tests (6)(7)(8)(9). With screening studies, approximately 4500 children per a year can be protected from the results of existing diseases, and disability can be prevented (9).…”