title: Prevalence of hearing impairment in children at risk.
abstract: Hearing impairment is prevalent in the general population; early intervention facilitates proper development.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To establish the prevalence of hearing impairment in infants at risk, born between June 2006 and July 2008, and to correlate the variables with hearing loss.
  
  
  METHODS
  descriptive and cross-sectional.
  
  
  METHODS
  188 newborns were evaluated using evoked otoacoustic emissions and distortion product and auditory behavior. Tests were repeated if the results were altered. If altered results persisted, the child was referred for impedance testing and, when necessary, for medical evaluation. Infants with normal conduction were referred for brainstem auditory evoked potential testing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 188 children two (1.1%) were excluded, and 174 (92.6%) had results within normal limits. Hearing impairment was found in 12 children (6.3%); hearing loss was retrocochlear in three infants (25%). Unilateral hearing loss was present in two infants (16.7%); bilateral hearing loss was present in 10 infants (83.3%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The high prevalence of hearing impairment in this population underlines the importance of early audiological testing.
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Minas Gerais, Clinic Hospital, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernanda Alves
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Botelho
authors.forename: Maria Cândida Ferrarez
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Bouzada
authors.forename: Luciana Macedo de
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Resende
authors.forename: Cynthia Francisca Xavier
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Eduardo Araújo
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Oliveira
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem; D005260:Female; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006320:Hearing Tests / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015997:Neonatal Screening; D017084:Otoacoustic Emissions, Spontaneous; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors