Title: Neonatal Hearing Screening Programme – In a Rural Based Tertiary Care Centre

Authors: Dr Ruta Shanmugam, Dr Viveknarayan.G2, Dr Saravanan, Dr Balaji Swaminathan, Dr V.U.Shanmugam, Dr Prem Nivas

 DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v7i10.139

Abstract

Introduction: Hearing loss and deafness are global issues that affect at least 278 million people worldwide1. The incidence of hearing impairment in India is 1-6 per thousand newborns screened2.

Objective: To evaluate the incidence of hearing impairment among high risk neonates in a rural based tertiary care hospital. To detect permanent hearing impairment of moderate to severe degree, at the earliest possible time. To provide appropriate intervention (medical/surgical/rehabilitation) following the detection of a permanent hearing impairment.

Methods and Materials: It is a descriptive, observational and interventional study conducted over a span of 2years.  

Inclusion Criteria: All high risk neonates born in a rural based tertiary care hospital during the study period.

Exclusion Criteria: Cases of congenital meatal atresia were excluded from the study.

Method of Study: All high risk neonates born and high risk neonates admitted during the study period have undergone hearing assessment using transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE), as the first level of hearing screening.  

Results: 315 at risk neonates were screened and 3 were detected to have hearing impairment which is an incidence of 9.5 per 1000 screened.

Conclusion: While it may not be technically feasible to screen all newborns in a rural setting like ours, screening must definitely be made mandatory for all high risk neonates using otoacoustic emissions as early as possible in order to preserve the deepest ,most humanizing philosophical sense man possesses, that is, hearing.  

Keywords: High risk newborns, Transient evoked otoacoustic emissions, Hearing impairment.

References

  1. Girish mishra, yojana Sharma, kanishk Mehta, and gunjan patel – efficacy of distortion product oto-acoustic emission(OAE)/Auditory brainstem evoked response(ABR) protocols in universal neonatal hearing screening and detecting hearing loss in children <2 years of age. Indian J otolaryngol head neck surg. 2013 Apr; 65(2): 105-110.
  2. Yojana Sharma, girish mishra, sushen H bhatt, somashekhar nimbalkar- Neonatal hearing screening programme (NHSP): at a rural based tertiary care centre. Indian journal of otolaryngology head and neck surgery (oct-dec 2015) 67(4):388-393.
  3. Nagapoornima P, Ramesh .A, Srilakshmi, Suman Rao, Patricia. P.L. and Madhuri Gore. Universal Hearing Screening. Indian Journal of Paeditrics.2007 Jun;74(6): 545 – 9
  4. Paul A (2011) Early identification of hearing loss and centralized new born hearing screening facility- the cochin experience. Indian paediatrics volume 48(5):355-359.
  5. John jewel, p.v. Varghese, tejinder singh, ashish Varghese – newborn hearing screening – experience at a tertiary hospital in northwest india. Int J otolaryngol head and neck surg 2:211-214.
  6. Year 2007 Position Statement: Principles and Guidelines for Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Programs. Pediatrics .Vol. 120 No. 4 October 2007, 898-921.

Corresponding Author

Dr Ruta Shanmugam

Professor, Dept of ENT, RMMCH, Annamalai University, Chidambaram