Newborn Hearing Screening: Are persistently in need of control TEOAE with detectable AABR to be interpreted as an indication of a false-negative screening result?

Introduction Newborns with a TEOAE-refer/AABR-pass result in the 2-stage protocol mostly used by maternity hospitals are discharged without further check-ups. However, newborns with the above findings keep coming to follow-up clinics, who receive further control screenings and ultimately a BERA to rule out cochlear hearing loss. The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the proportion of cochlear hearing loss in newborns with this initial finding.

Methods Between 08/2012 and 08/2022 344 newborns in our clinic, <6 months old at first presentation, showed the result TEOAE-refer/AABR-pass after a 2-stage TEOAE/AABR-screening. Of these children with persistent abnormal findings in the subsequent control screenings 36 (10.5%, 36/344) underwent a BERA. Of these 11 children showed a conspicuous and 25 an inconspicuous BERA.

Results In 11 children (3.2%, 11/344) with TEOAE-refer/AABR-pass a cochlear hearing loss was found within the first year of life.

Discussion In a very small number of newborns with the initial finding of TEOAE-refer/AABR-pass in the newborn hearing screening a cochlear hearing loss was found in the course of the first year of life. With regard to scarce pediatric audiological resources there is a practical implementation problem with high potential for conflict: On the one hand there must be a considerable number of unreported newborns with the above-mentioned findings who are currently not undergoing any follow-up. On the other hand the development of a cochlear hearing loss in the first year of life should be diagnosed and treated early in all children, also beyond the newborn hearing screening. Larger case numbers are necessary in order to be able to use this constellation of findings as an indication of false-negative screening results.

Publication History

Article published online:
12 May 2023