Relation between risk factor of hearing loss and the result of otoacoustic emission in newborns at Santosa Hospital Bandung Central

Abstract

Objective

To identify the characteristics of risk factors for hearing loss in newborns and their relation to hearing screening results using otoacoustic emissions (OAEs).

Methods

This research is a retrospective cross-sectional study. Chi-square analysis was used to see the relation between various risk factors resulting from the OAEs examination. A significant relation is defined by p-value <.05. Fisher exact test was used when criteria on using Chi-square was not met (expected count <5), and also regression model to show the association between risk factors and OAEs result.

Results

68 ears (7%) from 972 ears were found to have ‘refer’ results. About 329 cases (67.7%) of newborns were at risk of hearing loss, while the other 159 cases (33.3%) were not equally vulnerable to the condition. Out of ‘refer’ OAEs cases, 32 (6.6%) were bilaterally-refer cases, and 4 (0.8%) were unilaterally refer cases. Lower birth weight (LBW) (p = .029), prematurity (p = .000), and congenital abnormalities (p = .000) were found to be the significant risk factor in this study. Regression model showed newborns with congenital abnormalities were significantly more at risk 8.6 times has OAE ‘refer’ than without congenital abnormalities (p = .000), preterm newborns were more at risk 7.1 times compared to mature newborns (p = .000), and newborns with LBW more at risk 2.0 times has OAE ‘refer’ than newborns with normal birth weight (p = .032).

Conclusion

The incidence of OAEs ’refer’ cases in newborns at Santosa Hospital Bandung Central is quite high. Lower birth weight, prematurity, and congenital abnormalities were significantly corelated with OAEs ‘refer’. Congenital abnormalities can be considered as a risk factor that most often leads to OAEs ‘refer’.

Keywords:

• Otoacoustic emission
• newborn
• risk factor
• hearing loss

Acknowledgements

All authors would like to thank to Ms. Riskiya from Education and Training Unit and Mr. Muzna from Medical Record Unit Santosa Hospital Bandung Central.

Disclosure statement

The researchers stated that there was no conflict of interest in this study.

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded by Internal Grant (RPLK number 10.13039/501100015690) from Universitas Padjadjaran for NS, no external funding was involved.