Constraints of intensive care units and follow-up studies in prematures.

This paper reviews the main known causes of deafness in newborns at risk. Some of them, like infections, anoxia, prematurity, etc. can be classified as 'clinical factors'. Others, like the ototoxicity of some antibiotics and the noise of the life-supporting equipment, are described in the paragraph on the 'constraints of intensive care'. Finally, the possible potentiating effect that some of the above mentioned factors may have on each other is mentioned in the paragraph entitled 'combined effects'. The need of accurate follow-up studies of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) babies treated in different ways is stressed in the last paragraph.