ASSESSMENT OF UNIVERSAL NEONATAL HEARING SCREENING: OUTCOMES AND PREVALENCE AT A TERTIARY CARE CENTER

TRIVENI DESAI; RASHMI KAMATH; AISHWARAYA MANTHALE; ARUN KUMAR SHIRSHETTY

doi:10.22159/ijcpr.2025v17i1.6006

Authors

TRIVENI DESAI Department of Paediatrics, Bidar Institute of Medical Science Bidar, India
RASHMI KAMATH Department of Paediatrics, Healthway Hospitals, Old Goa, India
AISHWARAYA MANTHALE Department of Paediatrics, Motherhood Hospital Whitefield Bangalore, India
ARUN KUMAR SHIRSHETTY Department of General Surgery, Bidar Institute of Medical Science Bidar, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22159/ijcpr.2025v17i1.6006

Keywords:

Neonatal hearing screening, Otoacoustic emission, Tertiary care, Early hearing detection, Neonatal care, Auditory screening outcomes

Abstract

Objective: Early detection of hearing impairment through Universal Neonatal Hearing Screening (UNHS) is crucial for timely intervention. This study assesses the outcomes and prevalence of hearing loss in neonates screened at a tertiary care center.

Methods: This prospective observational study involved 1175 neonates born at SDM Medical College and Hospital between December 2019 and November 2020. Neonates underwent initial and, if necessary, repeat hearing screenings using the Otoacoustic Emission (OAE) technique. Data on gender and birth weight distribution were also analyzed to explore demographic correlations with screening outcomes.

Results: Of the neonates screened, 99.40% passed the initial hearing test, while 0.60% were referred for further evaluation. Among those referred, 71.43% passed on repeat screening, with 28.57% continuing to show potential hearing issues. The majority of neonates weighed over 2.5 kg, indicating a lower presence of very low birth weight infants in the screened population.

Conclusion: The high pass rate in initial screenings demonstrates the effectiveness of the OAE method in a tertiary care setting, though the importance of follow-up testing for those referred remains critical. The study highlights the successful implementation of UNHS and underscores the need for continuous monitoring and adaptation of screening protocols to address all potential risks in neonatal hearing loss.

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