Correlations between risk factors for hearing impairment and TEOAE screening test outcome in neonates at risk for hearing loss.

The aim of the study was to find the correlation between specific risk factors for hearing impairment as well as between risk factors and TEOAE screening results in neonates at risk for hearing impairment. Seventy-one newborns at risk for hearing impairment have been included in the study. Strong correlations between specific risk factors were found. Investigation of the relationship between specific risk factors and TEOAE signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) showed that in children with genetic risk factors, TORCH (toxoplasmosis, rubella, CMV, herpes virus, others) infections and in those treated with ototoxic drugs, the values of SNRs were significantly lower than in children at risk who did not present those factors. In case of hyperbilirubinaemic children the values of SNR were significantly higher than in the controls. In our opinion these relationships may be partially explained by the positive predictive values of these risk factors, but other intrinsic factors may also be involved.