Auditory brainstem response and otoacoustic emission assessment of hearing-impaired children of mothers who contracted rubella during pregnancy.
CONCLUSIONS
Based on the auditory brainstem response (ABR) results obtained in this study, the incidence of deafness in children whose mothers had rubella during pregnancy is high (29.5%), and deafness is profound in most cases (80%). Vaccinating women of childbearing age against rubella is essential to reduce the number of cases of childhood sensorineural hearing loss caused by gestational rubella.


OBJECTIVE
It has been shown in the literature that, in Brazil, gestational rubella is responsible for approximately 21% of cases of deafness in children. The purpose of this study was to assess the incidence of deafness in children whose mothers had rubella during pregnancy.


METHODS
Between February and July 2001, we conducted a prospective study assessing hearing status in 17 children (mean age 6 months). The mothers had serologically (ELISA) confirmed gestational rubella. We recorded ABRs and analysed distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs).


RESULTS
In 5 children (29.5%), ABRs revealed sensorineural hearing loss, which was moderate to severe in 1 (20%) and profound in 4 (80%). The hearing loss was bilateral in 3 children (60%) and asymmetrical in 4 (80%). Regarding DPOAEs, 7 children (41%) presented no response, and this occurred bilaterally in 4 (57%). All children with abnormal ABRs also presented abnormal DPOAEs. Two children with normal ABRs presented abnormal DPOAEs.
Bento
Ricardo F
RF
Department of Clinical Otorhinolaryngology, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Hospital das Clinicas, São Paulo, Brazil. rbento@attglobal.net
Castilho
Arthur M
AM
Sakae
Flavio A
FA
Andrade
Joelma Queiroz
JQ
Zugaib
Marcelo
M
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D017084:Otoacoustic Emissions, Spontaneous / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012409:Rubella / Q000150:complications*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index