Risk factors associated with neonatal hearing loss: evaluation of 2940 referred neonates in Ahvaz

Introduction: The Incidence of hearing loss in neonates with hearing loss risk factors is 10 to 20 times higher than that of normal neonates. The main purpose of the current study was to evaluate the risk factors of neonatal hearing loss among those newborns who were brought to Ahvaz Hearing Screening Program and to assess their impacts on hearing loss occurrence. Materials and Methods: In This descriptive-analytic and cross-sectional study, the hearing evaluation documents of the newborns who had failed in the first stage of in Ahvaz Hearing Screening Program and exhibited at least one hearing risk factor were reviewed. This program was initiated in 2008 and continued through 2011. Chi-square and odds ratio tests were used for the statistical analysis of data using SPSS software package. Results: Four hundred and seventy-eight infants (16 percentages) out of 2940 neonates were identified with one or more hearing loss risk factors. Totally, 52 hearing-impaired infants were diagnosed. There was a statistically significant difference for the occurrence of hearing loss between neonates who had risk factors and those who did not (P < 0.05). Syndromes associated with hearing loss, craniofacial malformation and meningitis were the most common causes of hearing loss. Conclusion: According to high impact of risk factors on incidence of neonatal hearing loss, hearing screening in infants with these risk factors is highly recommended. Keywords: Neonates, Risk factor, Hearing loss