PURPOSE: to characterize neonates and infants who were born in 2008 and have been submitted to the Newborn Hearing Screening Program of the Federal University of Pernambuco Hospital according to the presence of risk factors related to hearing loss. METHODS: a total of 787 newborns took part in the study. Information from clinical charts and tests results were collected in order set up a database. RESULTS: the most prevalent risk factors for hearing loss in the related population was hyperbilirubinemia, prematurity, low weigh at birth, use of medication during pregnancy, presence of diseases during pregnancy and permanence in a Newborn Intensive Care Unit. The factors that have shown significant statistic relation with hearing loss were: prematurity, low weigh at birth, permanence in a Newborn Intensive Care Unit, neonatal ventilation dependence and ototoxic drug exposure. CONCLUSION: we identified prenatal, per natal and postnatal risks factors for hearing loss. Although, only per natal and postnatal risks factors were significantly related to hearing loss.
Infant, Newborn; Deafness; Risk Index; Triage
