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Newborn hearing screening in Queensland 2009–2011: Comparison of hearing screening and diagnostic audiological assessment between term and preterm infants
Author(s) -
Calcutt Trent L,
Dornan Dimity,
Beswick Rachael,
Tudehope David I
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of paediatrics and child health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.631
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1440-1754
pISSN - 1034-4810
DOI - 10.1111/jpc.13281
Subject(s) - medicine , sensorineural hearing loss , gestational age , hearing loss , pediatrics , gestation , incidence (geometry) , referral , audiology , pregnancy , obstetrics , physics , family medicine , biology , optics , genetics
Aim This study compares rates and timing of newborn hearing screening outcomes, audiological assessment and hearing loss diagnosis between infants of different gestational age groups. Early identification and management of sensorineural hearing loss ( SNHL ), ideally by 3–6 months of age, facilitates speech and language optimisation. Literature stratifying hearing screening and diagnostic audiology assessment by gestational age groups is lacking. Methods Subjects were infants with recorded gestational ages receiving newborn hearing screening in Queensland between 2009 and 2011. Data were provided through the Queensland Healthy Hearing database. Infants were analysed in <34 weeks, 34–36 +6 weeks, 37–38 +6 weeks and ≥39 weeks gestational age groups. Results Infants (175 911) were eligible for analysis, 7.9% being preterm. Per 1000 infants analysed, bilateral SNHL of >40 dB occurred in 2.4 for <34, 1.4 for 34–36 +6 , 0.7 for 37–38 +6 and 0.7 for ≥39 weeks gestation. Diagnoses attributable to newborn hearing screening direct referral were 93.1% for bilateral >40 dB SNHL and 88.2% for other hearing loss. Relative to term, preterm infants had a higher incidence of direct and targeted surveillance referrals, audiology assessment and hearing loss diagnosis. Preterm infants were screened later after birth. Conclusions Specific hearing screening and diagnosis characteristics differed between preterm infants <34 and 34–36 +6 weeks gestation, and term infants. Consideration of unique gestational age strata characteristics supports care individualisation. Preterm infants represent a diagnostic challenge, with higher rates of bilateral >40 dB SNHL than term but correspondingly higher false positive results on screening, justifying vigilant monitoring. Focused research into specific risk factors in preterm infants is warranted.