A Study Assessing the Incidence of Congenital Hearing Loss and the Efficacy of Neonatal Hearing Screening Using Otoacoustic Emissions in a Secondary Care Hospital in Rural Andhra Pradesh

Abstract Background: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of a neonatal hearing screening (NHS) program using Otoacoustic emission hearing screener in a secondary care hospital and to assess the incidence of neonatal hearing loss in the population of patients undergoing deliveries at our hospital. Methodology: Electronic records from a secondary hospital were used to gather data about babies born between January 2020 and December 2024. Information regarding the results of the NHS test done at birth was collected. For those that failed the birth screening, the results of 2 further sequential screenings were documented as well as those that finally had a confirmatory hearing test where necessary. The neonates were subjected to three-stage sequential screening using the otoacoustic emissions hearing screener. Neonates suspected of hearing loss were screened thrice before referring to a tertiary health care center for confirmatory testing. Feasibility of the screening program, incidence of neonatal hearing loss, and risk factors found in association with neonatal hearing loss were assessed. Results: Out of 6585 babies screened, 23 were suspected to have hearing loss, of which 19 underwent confirmatory testing at the tertiary care referral hospital. Among the 19 babies who had confirmatory testing, 9 babies were diagnosed to have congenital hearing loss and were counseled for rehabilitation, which co-relates to the national incidence rates of congenital hearing loss of 1 per 1000 babies live births Conclusion: In a resource-poor setting, otoacoustic emission hearing screener is a useful, effective, and necessary screening device to pick up congenital hearing loss as any healthcare worker can be trained to do the test.