Monitoring neonates for ototoxicity

Abstract

Objectives: Neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) are at greater risk of permanent hearing loss compared to infants in well mother and baby units. Several factors have been associated with this increased prevalence of hearing loss, including congenital infections (e.g. cytomegalovirus or syphilis), ototoxic drugs (such as aminoglycoside or glycopeptide antibiotics), low birth weight, hypoxia and length of stay. The aetiology of this increased prevalence of hearing loss remains poorly understood. Design: Here we review current practice and discuss the feasibility of designing improved ototoxicity screening and monitoring protocols to better identify acquired, drug-induced hearing loss in NICU neonates. Study sample: A review of published literature. Conclusions: We conclude that current audiological screening or monitoring protocols for neonates are not designed to adequately detect early onset of ototoxicity. This paper offers a detailed review of evidence-based research, and offers recommendations for developing and implementing an ototoxicity monitoring protocol for young infants, before and after discharge from the hospital.

Key Words:

• Newborn hearing screening
• conditions/pathology/disorders
• paediatric
• anatomy and physiology

Acknowledgements

This research was funded by National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under award number UL1TR000128 to the Oregon Clinical and Translational Research Institute (PSS, ACG); by National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders R01s DC004555, DC012588 (PSS); the U.S. Department of Education (H325K120305; for AMT), and the U.S. Maternal Child Health Bureau (T73MC00050; for AMT). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the above-listed federal agencies.

Declaration of interest

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.