TY - JOUR
T1 - Hearing Loss and Risk Factors in Very Low Birth Weight Infants
AU - Frezza, Simonetta
AU - Tiberi, Eloisa
AU - Corsello, Mirta
AU - Priolo, Francesca
AU - Cota, Francesco
AU - Catenazzi, P
AU - Conti, Guido
AU - Costa, S
AU - Vento, Giovanni
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - The incidence of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is still high in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. The purpose of our study was to provide the prevalence rates of SNHL and to analyze the risk factors of hearing impairment and changes in hearing thresholds in a cohort of VLBW infants. A retrospective observational study was conducted in our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) from 2012 to 2016. All VLBW infants included were screened by transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs) and diagnostic auditory brainstem response (ABR). In total, we enrolled 316 infants and SNHL was diagnosed in 68, leading to an early incidence of 21.5% as 36 infants out of 68 improved. Finally, SNHL was confirmed in 20 patients (6.3%) who needed hearing aids. They were significantly smaller, sicker, had longer hospitalizations, and received more ototoxic therapies. Logistic regression analysis showed that gestational age (GA) influenced the association between drugs and SNHL. The results underlined how the total exposure to antibiotics is significantly associated with SNHL, even after GA correction. In conclusion, GA, birth weight and, above all, the length and complexity of NICU stay quantify the risk of SNHL and should be considered at the individual level for parent counseling.
AB - The incidence of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is still high in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. The purpose of our study was to provide the prevalence rates of SNHL and to analyze the risk factors of hearing impairment and changes in hearing thresholds in a cohort of VLBW infants. A retrospective observational study was conducted in our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) from 2012 to 2016. All VLBW infants included were screened by transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs) and diagnostic auditory brainstem response (ABR). In total, we enrolled 316 infants and SNHL was diagnosed in 68, leading to an early incidence of 21.5% as 36 infants out of 68 improved. Finally, SNHL was confirmed in 20 patients (6.3%) who needed hearing aids. They were significantly smaller, sicker, had longer hospitalizations, and received more ototoxic therapies. Logistic regression analysis showed that gestational age (GA) influenced the association between drugs and SNHL. The results underlined how the total exposure to antibiotics is significantly associated with SNHL, even after GA correction. In conclusion, GA, birth weight and, above all, the length and complexity of NICU stay quantify the risk of SNHL and should be considered at the individual level for parent counseling.
KW - very low birth weight infants
KW - sensorineural hearing loss
KW - neonatal intensive care unit
KW - ototoxic drugs
KW - neonatal screenings
KW - very low birth weight infants
KW - sensorineural hearing loss
KW - neonatal intensive care unit
KW - ototoxic drugs
KW - neonatal screenings
UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10807/304656
U2 - 10.3390/jcm12247583
DO - 10.3390/jcm12247583
M3 - Article
SN - 2077-0383
VL - 12
SP - N/A-N/A
JO - Journal of Clinical Medicine
JF - Journal of Clinical Medicine
ER -