title: Risk Factors for Sensorineural Hearing Loss Among High-Risk Infants in Golestan Province, Iran in 2010 - 2011.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hearing impairment, as one of the most common birth defects, is a hidden disability with negative impacts on speech and cognitive development.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and determine the associated risk factors among infants admitted to neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) and neonatal wards of teaching hospitals, affiliated to Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study, 791 infants were recruited via non-random sampling. Demographic and clinical characteristics of the subjects were gathered, and the Automated Auditory Brainstem Response (AABR) test was performed upon admission. Afterwards, the subjects were followed-up and re-assessed, using the AABR test. For infants with abnormal AABR results, the Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) test was performed on the day of discharge.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the infants was 3.75 ± 4.86 days upon admission, and 56.4% of the subjects were female. The mean length of hospital stay was 9.63 ± 1.1 days; the subjects were hospitalized for 3.50 ± 10.21 days in the NICUs and 6.1 ± 5.27 days in the neonatal wards. In total, 3.4% of the infants presented with SNHL. No significant difference was found between SNHL and neonates' age (P = 0.52), sex (P = 0.5), or sepsis (P = 0.94). However, SNHL was significantly associated with gestational age (P = 0.045), birth weight (P < 0.001), length of hospital stay (P < 0.001), pathological jaundice (P=0.033), antibiotic treatments (P = 0.007), and total serum bilirubin level (P = 0.01). Additionally, binary logistic regression analysis demonstrated the association between SNHL and these factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, the prevalence of SNHL among hospitalized neonates was similar to previous reports in Iran and other countries. Based on the findings, administration of ototoxic drugs during the neonatal period can lead to SNHL. Therefore, it seems essential to regularly screen newborns under treatment and limit the indiscriminate use of ototoxic drugs.
authors.affiliation: Neonatal and Children's Health Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Ehsan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Alaee
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sirati
authors.affiliation: Department of Ear, Nose and Throat, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Hossein
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Taziki
authors.affiliation: Neonatal and Children's Health Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Mahnaz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fouladinejad
keywords: Infant; Iran; Newborn; Sensorineural Hearing Loss