An auditory health program for neonates in ICU and/or intermediate care settings.
Auditory screening and early identification and management of patients with hearing loss improve the development prospects of infants.


OBJECTIVE
To analyze the outcomes produced by an Auditory Health Program in neonates managed in an intensive care unit.


METHODS
This prospective cross-sectional study enrolled neonates referred to the neonatal care unit at hospital CAISM/Unicamp with stays lasting for 48 hours and more within a period of 13 months. Automated monitoring of brainstem auditory evoked potentials was used in the auditory screening of neonates at the time of discharge. Children with poor BAEPs were sent to undergo audiological, otorhinolaryngological, and genetic tests.


RESULTS
Auditory screening was performed for 84.7% of the live births; 39.7% were screened at 30 days or more of age. Diagnostic tests revealed that 63.8% of the children had normal hearing. Incidence of hearing loss was 4%; sensorineural hearing loss was observed in 1,4% of the subjects; 0.24% had auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder; and 2.2% had conductive hearing loss.


CONCLUSIONS
Neonatal auditory screening was not offered universally, and nor was it carried out, in many cases, within the child's first month of life. Screening must be performed before neonates are discharged and in more than one stage. A high incidence of hearing loss was observed.
UNICAMP, Curso de Fonoaudiologia.
Maria Francisca
MF
Colella-Santos
UNICAMP, Centro de Biologia Molecular e Genética.
Edi Lucia
EL
Sartorato
UNICAMP, CAISM, Hospital da Mulher Prof. Dr. José Aristodemo Pinotti, Setor de Neonatologia.
Tatiana Guilhermino
TG
Tazinazzio
UNICAMP, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Curso de Fonoaudiologia.
Maria de Fátima de Campos
Mde F
Françozo
UNICAMP, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Curso de Fonoaudiologia.
Christiane Marques do
CM
Couto
UNICAMP, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Departamento de Oftalmo/otorrinolaringologia.
Arthur Menino
AM
Castilho
UNICAMP, CAISM, Divisão de Neonatologia.
Izilda Rodrigues Machado
IR
Rosa
UNICAMP, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Curso de Fonoaudiologia.
Maria Cecilia Marconi Pinheiro
MC
Lima
UNICAMP, CAISM, Hospital da Mulher Prof. Dr. José Aristodemo Pinotti, Divisão de Apoio à Assistência e à Pesquisa.
Sérgio Tadeu Martins
ST
Marba
D001300:Audiometry, Evoked Response; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem; D005260:Female; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006320:Hearing Tests / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D015997:Neonatal Screening / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors