Hearing screening outcome in neonatal intensive care unit graduates from a tertiary care centre in Singapore

摘要

Abstract Background We aimed to analyse the outcome of universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) and high‐risk hearing screening in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) graduates in a tertiary care unit. Methods The hearing screen programme comprises a 2‐stage automated auditory brainstem response protocol followed by a high‐risk hearing screen at 3–6 months. This study is a retrospective study of NICU graduates born between April 2002 and December 2009. Data on hearing screening, audiological assessment, and management were extracted from a computerized data management system (HITRACK). Results Of 100,225 newborn infants, 2.9% were admitted to the NICU during the study period. The overall incidence of hearing loss (HL) of any type/severity was 35/1,000 infants. Of infants with HL, 92.4% had their first automated auditory brainstem response at/before 1 month of corrected age. The incidence of congenital permanent HL identified by the UNHS was 15.4/1,000. The corrected median age of diagnosis was 4.5 months (1–23.5 months). Of 2,552 NICU graduates who passed the UNHS, 75.5% were retested at 3–6 months of life. Twelve infants with permanent late‐onset HL were identified, raising the overall incidence of permanent HL to 19.9/1,000; 1.1/1,000 had auditory neuropathy. Of the 92 infants with HL, 89 (96.7%) had multiple risk factors. Conclusions There is a high incidence of HL in NICU graduates; 22.6% were late in onset. An early rescreen in those who pass the UNHS is a beneficial step for this high risk population.