1262 Prevalence of Hearing Impairments at Age Four Years in Extremely Preterm Infants

• Published in: Archives of disease in childhood Vol. 97; no. Suppl 2; pp. A360 - A361
• Main Authors: Grahn, A, Horsch, S, Skiöld, B, Blennow, M, Uhlén, I, Hallberg, B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health 01-10-2012; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Auditory Evaluation; Auditory Tests; Child Health; Hearing Impairments; Hearing loss; Infants; Premature Infants; Young Children
• ISSN: 0003-9888; 1468-2044
• DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2012-302724.1262

Background and Aim Extremely preterm infants are at increased risk of permanent hearing loss. However, population-based data in infants born with less than 27 weeks gestation are scarce. The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of hearing impairments in extremely preterm infants at the age four years. Methods A population based cohort study on infants born before 27 gestational weeks from 1 January 2004 to 31 mars 2007 in Stockholm, Sweden. Perinatal clinical data on all children were collected prospectively. Data on hearing ability were retracted from patient records. Hearing ability was investigated through neonatal hearing screening with otoacoustic emissions (OAE) for children born after 1 November 2005 and for all children at age four years with play audiometry through Child Health Centers. Results Of the 107 children, one infant (0.9%) had a permanent moderate (40–60 dB) bilateral sensorineural hearing impairment. The hearing loss was detected through the neonatal hearing screening and hearing aids were given at age three years. 56 children had neonatal hearing screening of which 46 (82%) had normal hearing. After hearing screening at four years age no additional children were identified with hearing impairment. Several children had neonatal morbidity such as BPD, ROP and IVH. At age 30 months 6 children had CP. Conclusion The prevalence of hearing impairments at the age of four in the studied population is 0.9 %. This prevalence is lower than data published in previous extremely preterm cohorts, and lower than expected in this very high-risk population.