PURPOSE: To investigate the correlation between risk indicators and hearing impairment in infants of a Newborn hearing screening program METHODS: A retrospective study with 3151 newborn records with and without risk indicator for hearing loss, followed-up by a Newborn hearing screening program at a Public Hospital in the city of Belo Horizonte (MG). RESULTS: In the group without risk indicators, the incidence of hearing loss was 1.04%: 0.04% were sensorineural and 0.99% were conductive. In the group with risk indicators, the incidence of hearing loss was 8.38% (5.27% conductive and 3.1% sensorineural). In the high risk group one child (0.33%), who passed the screening, was diagnosed during the follow up with bilateral sensorineural mild hearing. The most common risk indicators were neonatal intensive care of >5 days (43.47%) followed by use of ototoxic drugs, (29.81%) and mechanical ventilation (28.88%). It was observed that children with suspected syndromes have 18 times more chance of acquiring sensorineural hearing loss. CONCLUSION: The risk indicator which correlated to hearing loss was suspicion of syndromes. Health promotion actions are necessary to reduce the presence of risk indicators found in the served population.
Neonatal Screening; Hearing; Hearing Loss; Risk Index; Audiology