الفهرس | Only 14 pages are availabe for public view |
Abstract Back ground: Permanent hearing loss is a common neonatal health problem, which can lead to deleterious effects on language and speech development and academic outcome. Its prevalence especially the sensory neural type is much higher in newborns that needed neonatal intensive care unit admission. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 314 neonates admitted at neonatal intensive care unit of Cairo university hospital between 1st of August 2019 and 31st of July 2021 with any risk factor of hearing impairment, as defined by the joint committee on infant hearing. All the included neonates subjected to detailed history taking and clinical evaluation. They were all evaluated by transient evoked otoacoustic emission (TEOAE). Automated auditory brainstem response (AABR) was done at three months of age for those neonates who failed the TEOAE screening. Results: Out of the 314 neonates, 4.5 % of cases were diagnosed with permanent hearing loss. No statistical significance was detected between hearing loss and gender (P value 0.610), prematurity (P value 0.529), birth weight (P value 0.076). The most common risk factor detected was receiving ototoxic drugs, with aminoglycosides being the most frequent ones. There was a significant P value between ototoxic medications and hearing loss (P value 0.018). The highest percentage of cases with hearing loss was detected among neonates who received both aminoglycosides and vancomycin. Conclusion: The prevalence of permanent hearing loss among admitted neonates at risk is high so screening is essential for early detection of cases and hence early management. Use of ototoxic medications especially aminoglycosides and vancomycin is a major risk factor for hearing loss. Duration of ototoxic drug therapy as well as that of oxygen therapy is of significant association with hearing loss. |