EARLY DETECTION OF HEARING IMPAIRMENT IN NEWBORNS USING AUTOMATIC OTOACOUSTIC EMISSION IN VIROVITICA COUNTY HOSPITAL MATERNITY WARD

Abstract

Summary. Objective: To investigate the prevalence of hearing impairment in newborns and its successful early detection using automatic otoacoustic emission (A-OAE). Methods: All newborns from Virovitica County Hospital Maternity Ward in the period 2004–2006 were included in the screening for hearing impairment.Their hearing was investigated using A-OAE. Hearing impairment diagnosis was confirmed with tertiary audiologic analysis. Results: Hearing was tested in 2422 (98,9%) newborns among whom 199 (8,2%) had positive hearing impairment results. Medical examination showed 43 (1,8%) newborns had positive results and were referred to a secondary institution (Policlinic SUVAG, Zagreb) where in 11 (0,45%) of them was confirmed hearing impairment. A significantly higher percentage of hearing impairment was among newborns with risk factors. Conclusion: The results confirm the importance of early screening for hearing impairment of all newborns in the maternity ward using A-OAE, because this will enable the early treatment and successful rehabilitation.