[Neonatal hearing screening during the first and second day of life]

Abstract

Aim: Congenital or acquired hearing loss in infanthood has been associated with lifelong deficits in speech and language acquisition, poor school performances and emotional and social maladjustments. The identification of hearing loss through neonatal and infant life can prevent or reduce many of these adverse consequences, permitting early intervention.

Methods: We performed the screening of hearing loss with a technical device, echo-screen Madsen, based on transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE). The screening was carried out in 50 newborns during the 1st day of life and in 80 newborns during the 2nd day of life.

Results: The 2nd day of life showed a significant better stability of the test and a better symmetry (P<0.001), and less incidence of artefacts (P<0.001).

Conclusions: The results obtained confirm that the 2nd day of life is the most appropriate time for the neonatal hearing assessment with TEOAE.