IMPORTANCE OF NEWBORN HEARING SCREENING IN DECREASING AVERAGE DELAY IN DIAGNOSIS OF CONGENITAL SENSORINEURAL HEARING LOSS

Abstract

Background: Congenital sensorineural deafness is an important childhood sensory disorder, which can affect speech, language, learning and social development, if not diagnosed early. Many children with hearing loss are diagnosed late because clinical signs may be unremarkable in the neonatal period. Newborn hearing screening offers the chance to identify hearing loss before developmental delay is apparent.

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the importance of newborn hearing screening in decreasing the average delay in the diagnosis of congenital sensorineural hearing loss.

Methodology: This was an observational study conducted in CMH Lahore between January 2025 to January 2026. Parents or guardians provided informed consent and 200 newborns were recruited to the study. All eligible newborns underwent hearing screening prior to discharge or in the first month of life with otoacoustic emission testing and/or automated auditory brainstem response. Newborns who failed the first screening were recalled for repeat screening and confirmatory audiological assessment. Data on demographic characteristics, risk factors, screening results, age at screening, and age at diagnostic confirmation were collected and analyzed.

Results: Of 200 newborns, 108 (54.0%) were male and 92 (46.0%) were female. 38 (19.0%) neonates were found to have risk factors for congenital hearing loss. At first screening, 188 (94.0%) newborns passed and 12 (6.0%) did not pass and needed further evaluation. After confirmatory assessment 4 (2.0%) newborns were diagnosed with congenital sensorineural hearing loss. The average age at diagnosis in the screened newborns was 3.2 ± 1.1 months, versus 24.6 ± 8.4 months in the non-screened children. The difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Newborn hearing screening resulted in a significant decrease in the average delay in diagnosis of congenital sensorineural hearing loss. It proved useful for identifying affected newborns within the first few months of life, and for referral for timely intervention. Universal newborn hearing screening should be promoted as a part of neonatal care for early diagnosis and early management of hearing impairment for better developmental outcome.