Newborn hearing screening: outcomes and management of infants

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and characteristics of hearing loss among infants referred after newborn hearing screening in a tertiary referral center in Türkiye and to examine its association with demographic and clinical risk factors. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted at SBÜ Gülhane Training and Research Hospital between January 2021 and December 2024, including 1,322 infants referred after newborn hearing screening due to either a "refer" result or the presence of risk factors despite passing automated auditory brainstem response. Relevant risk factors were analyzed. RESULTS: Hearing loss was detected in 92 infants (7.0%), including 3.3% with unilateral and 3.7% with bilateral loss. By severity, the distribution was mild (2.8%), moderate (0.8%), moderately severe (0.3%), and profound (1.5%). While most infants with unilateral loss did not receive amplification, bilateral cases showed higher rates of hearing aid (28.6%) and cochlear implant (14.3%) use. Family history of hearing loss was the only factor significantly associated with device adoption (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of hearing loss in referred infants was higher than in population-based studies and aligned with findings in high-risk groups. Differences in device use between unilateral and bilateral cases highlight the importance of parental counseling. Strengthening follow-up and family awareness is crucial to improving early intervention outcomes, particularly in infants without a family history.