NEWBORN HEARING SCREENING PRACTICES IN A TERTIARY HEALTHCARE CENTRE IN THE STATE OF MEGHALAYA –A CLINICAL AUDIT REPORTNEWBORN HEARING SCREENING PRACTICES IN A TERTIARY HEALTHCARE CENTRE IN THE STATE OF MEGHALAYA –A CLINICAL AUDIT REPORT

Abstract

Background:Congenital hearing impairment is a significant public health concern that can lead to irreversible delays in speech,language,cognitive and auditory development.This clinical audit rvaluates the effectiveness of New Born Hearing Screening Program at a tertiary healthcare centre in Meghalaya.

Methods:A retrospective clinical audit was conducted on neonates screened over a defined period using a two-stage protocol.Universal Hearing Screening was performed using Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emision(DPOAE).Neonates who  failed in the initial screening (“refer”) underwent a second DPOAE screening. The referred DPOAE babies in the second stage was referred for Auditory Brainstem Response(ABR) and was diagnosed with Congenital Hearing loss.

Results:The data revealed that a two-stage screening protocol significantly reduced the false –positive rate ,with the “pass” rate increasing substantially during the rescreening phase.Statistical analysis identifies hyperbilirubimia,low birth weight and perinatal asphyxia as highly significant risk factors(p<0.001) associated with referred DPOAEs. While the rescreening follow up rate was 74.5% ,the dianostic follow up rate dropped to 48.57% .In the present study, incidence of congenital hearing loss was estimated at 5 per 1,000 live births per year, with an overall prevalence of 1.4% in the screened population.

Conclusion:The institutional NBHS program is effective in early identification of hearing loss.Given the significantly high prevalence of “Refer” results observed among neonates with identified risk factors,the study finding suggests that the high risk cohort warrants mandatory diagnostic evaluation via ABR to ensure early and accurate detection.