Newborn hearing screening results of refugees living in our city and the factors affecting the results.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the changes in the risk factors affecting the results of the Newborn Hearing Screening (NHS) and the hearing test results of the Syrian refugees in our city.

METHODS

Syrian and Turkish newborns, born in our hospital between 01.01.2016 and 31.12.2017 and referred to our hospital from environmental hospitals for NHS, were included in this study. NHS results and risk factors were analyzed.

RESULTS

786 Syrian and 7230 Turkish newborns were included in this study. 53 (6,74%) infants referred in both ears, 26 (3,30%) infants in the one ear. There was a significant relationship between the presence of hearing loss and the history of intensive care unit admittance, presence and absence of low birth weight and neonatal icterus at Syrian newborns. In the same period, 20 (0,3%) Turkish infants referred bilaterally and 45 (0,6%) newborns unilaterally (25 right ear, 20 left ear). There was a significant difference between Turkish and Syrian newborns in terms of very low and low birth weight and intensive care unit admittance.

CONCLUSIONS

The rate of hearing loss in Syrian refugee patients is quite high. Pregnant refugee women who are forced to migrate because of war face many risk factors and these people need to be included into the newborn hearing screening programs in the country where they took refuge in.