Monitoring of audiological development and indicators of risk of deafness

Abstract

Introduction: The neonates with risk for deafness may be susceptible to changes in auditory development during the first year of life, reflecting on the acquisition of language. Purpose: To verify the occurrence of risk indicators and to compare the results of the behavioral evaluations in children with and without risk indicators. Methods: 159 children were evaluated, 66 with indicators of risk and 93 without indicators of risk. They were considered as normal when subject to the Newborn Hearing Screening. Between six and thirty-two months, they were re-evaluated in relation to the auditory pathways maturation. The minimal level of response for the calibrated sounds was researched with frequencies of 500 to 4000 Hz, intensities from 20 to 80 dBNA. The expected response was the localization of the sound source. The behavioral responses for the non-calibrated sounds were researched through sounds instruments, along the lateral, superior, and inferior plans. The eye blink reflex was also researched with the use of an agogo, a musical instrument. Results: From the studied children, 41.5% presented risk indicators of hearing loss. The family history of hearing loss was the most frequent indicator, and the premature birth associated with the hospitalization in intensive care units was predominant. In the behavioral evaluation, there was difference between the results of children with and without indicators of risk, only for the non-calibrated sounds (p=0,0020). Conclusion: From all evaluated children, 41% presented risk indicators for deafness. The presence of one or more risk indicators of hearing loss had effect only in responses for non-calibrated sounds.