Prevalence of sensory neural hearing loss in neonates at 3 months of age with a history of prematurity and admission in NICU up to 5 days

Abstract

The aim of this study is to estimate the prevalence of sensory neural hearing loss in neonates at 3 months of age with a history of prematurity and admission in NICU up to 5 days. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study and 200 neonates who were preterm birth in Al-Zahra hospital of Tabriz for any reason and were hospitalized in NICU for more than 5 days, were extracted from records of NICU. ABR hearing test was obtained from neonates who were enrolled in the study after obtaining informed consent from parents. From neonate's hospitalization records, risk factors for sensory neural hearing loss including gestational age, number of days of aminoglycoside intake, days under mechanical ventilation and etc. were extracted. Results: This study is conducted in Al-Zahra hospital of Tabriz in 2018-19, 200 neonates with mean (standard deviation) weight of 1878.9 (±542.2) g and gestational age with mean (standard deviation) of 32.6 (±2.07) weeks were evaluated. The majority of neonates were boys with 106 persons (53.0%) and most delivery was cesarean with 154 cases (77%) and mean (SD) first and fifth minute Apgar scores were 7.4 (±1.5) and 8.9 (±1.1), respectively. Median (25th and 75th percentiles) respiratory support and oxygen supplement duration were 2 (2–3) and 6 (4–9) days, respectively. Sensory neural hearing loss at the end of one month, patent ductus arteriosus and retinopathy of prematurity were the most common complication observed among these neonates, respectively. The mean (SD) gestational age was significantly higher in the patient group than in the healthy group, but the difference between the 5-minute Apgar score below 5 and the mechanical ventilation duration for more than 5 days were not statistically significant in the two groups.