Hearing loss in very low birthweight infants treated with neonatal intensive care.

Abstract

SUMMARY The hearing of 111 perinatal intensive care survivors of birthweights 1500 g or less was assessed at a mean age of 64 years (range [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]. These 111 infants included 86 % of the longterm survivors of this birthweight cared for in the newborn unit of University College Hospital, London, during the years 1966-72. All these infants were nursed in commercially available incubators for periods ranging from 2 to 80 days (mean 37) in which the mean noise threshold was 65 dB. Ten (9 %) had sensory neural hearing losses, one (1 %) infant had a congenital conductive hearing loss, and 21 (19 %) infants had exudative otitis media with a mean loss of 25 dB. Apnoeic attacks in the neonatal period were the most significant predictors of hearing loss in these infants (P<0 .05) and an indirect serum bilirubin level of at least 170 pumol/l (10 mg/100 ml) in the neonatal period had an additive effect (P<0 .05). There was no evidence that ambient noise had affected the hearing of these very low birthweight infants.Reports indicate that the incidence of sensoryneural hearing loss among very low birthweight infants is high (4 to 15-9y%) (Campanelli et al., 1958;McDonald, 1964). Douek et al. (1976) suggested that this might be due to damage of the cochlea by ambient noise from the incubators in which these infants are usually nursed. To support this suggestion they quoted a study by Campanelli et al. (1958) which showed that the mean length of stay in incubators for low birthweight infants with sensory neural loss was significantly longer than the mean for low birthweight infants without hearing loss. There were, however, other important differences between the two groups. In particular, the mean birthweight in children with sensory neural hearing loss was only 981 g, whereas the mean for the children without hearing loss was much greater-1718 g (P<0 05).

Avaliação do comportamento auditivo e neuropsicomotor em lactentes de baixo peso ao nascimento

“…Tem sido demonstrado por vários autores que recém-nascidos de baixo peso ao nascimento têm uma incidência de perda auditiva superior aos recém-nascidos com peso superior a 2500g 15,16 .…”

Screening for neonatal hearing loss in the Eastern region of United Arab Emirates

“…The incidence of sensorineural hearing loss among infants who have been in a neonatal intensive unit (NICU) varies from 2.1%-17.5% depending upon the presence of different risk factors [4][5][6]. However lower rates have been reported (0.7%-1.5%) in more recent published studies [7][8][9].…”

Hyponatremia and Sensorineural Hearing Loss in Preterm Infants

“…Based on universal screening that includes all newborn infants before hospital discharge, the incidence of hearing loss has been estimated to be 1-3 per 1,000 infants [1][2][3]. When targeted screening of newborns at risk is applied the incidence of hearing loss is markedly increased and it has been found to vary from 1.5 to 27 per 100 infants in this populations [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18]. Surprisingly, about one half of the hearing-impaired infants does not have any known risk factors for hearing loss [1], the yields of targeted screening, therefore, is to be improved.…”