Hearing outcomes in preterm infants with confirmed hearing loss

• Published in: International journal of pediatric otorhinolaryngology 2022-10, Vol.161, p.111262-111262, Article 111262
• Main Authors: Aldè, Mirko, Di Berardino, Federica, Ambrosetti, Umberto, Barozzi, Stefania, Piatti, Gioia, Consonni, Dario, Zanetti, Diego, Pignataro, Lorenzo, Cantarella, Giovanna
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Auditory brainstem responses; Breastfeeding; Hearing improvement; Hearing loss; Preterm infants
• ISSN: 0165-5876; 1872-8464
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2022.111262

Premature infants are at high risk for hearing loss (HL). The aim of the present study is to assess the frequency of preterm infants affected by HL who experience hearing improvement over months and evaluate possible factors associated with hearing changes. This retrospective study was conducted in a third-level referral audiologic center. Preterm infants with a confirmed diagnosis of sensorineural HL within the first 3 months of life were reassessed at 18 months corrected age using the click-evoked auditory brainstem response between January 1, 2012, and June 30, 2020. The frequency of hearing improvement and associations between possible risk factors and hearing changes were evaluated. A total of 138 preterm infants (71 male and 67 female; mean gestational age: 30+2 weeks) were assessed. The percentages of hearing improvement and hearing threshold normalization were 58.7% (81/138) and 35.5% (49/138), respectively. We observed a higher frequency of hearing improvement among preterm infants who had received exclusive breastfeeding or mixed feeding compared with those who had received exclusive infant formula (80% versus 29.3%, P