Outcome of Hearing Screening – Otoacoustic Emission in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Graduates from Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract Context: Hearing is essential for the development of speech and language. Children with bilateral hearing loss usually have impaired abilities of speech and language, which can limit their educational achievement. Aims: This study’s objective is to use otoacoustic emission (OAE) to ascertain the results of hearing screening, the prevalence of hearing impairment, and risk factors among neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) graduates from a rural tertiary care hospital. Settings and Design: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital in a rural setup. Materials and Methods: All neonates discharged from NICU were included in the cross-sectional study. Prior approval was obtained from the ethical committee of the hospital. Informed consent was obtained from the parents, and prenatal and postnatal data were recorded. OAE in both the ears was assessed using a handheld Otodynamics Otoport. Statistical Analysis Used: Two-tailed Fisher’s exact test was used to assess statistical significance, with P < 0.05 being considered as statistically significant. Results: A substantial correlation exists between OAE impairment and sepsis, one of the high-risk conditions for deafness. Conclusions: In this study, hearing loss was significantly associated with neonatal sepsis (bacterial). Bacterial culture positivity was also highly associated with hearing loss.