Risk Factors For Permanent Hearing Loss

Betty Vohr, M.D.

Medical Director

Rhode Island Hearing Assessment Program

Professor of Pediatrics

Brown Medical School

Causes of Permanent Hearing Loss in 100 Infants

50% Environmental 50

50% Genetic

30% syndromes (>300) 30

20% >75 genes ident 20

½ are GJB2 – Connexin 26

Genetic Causes

Single gene Connexin 26

Gene + environment Mitochondrial + ototoxic

Gene + gene Gene + other gene

Dilemma #1: Two Sets of Risk Factors

• Neonatal Risk Factors

• Late onset Risk Factors

JCIH Neonatal Risk Indicators for neonates <28 d where there is

no universal screening

• Illness with admission to NICU > 48 hours

• Stigmata assoc with SNHL or Conductive HL

• Family hx of permanent childhood SNHL

• Craniofacial anomalies

• In-utero infections ie CMV, herpes, toxoplasmosis or rubella

Risk Indicators for late onset HL

• Caregiver concern re: hearing, speech, language

• Family hx of permanent childhood HL

• Stigmata associated with SNHL or Conduct. HL

• Postnatal infections: ie meningitis

• In-utero infections ie CMV, herpes, toxoplasmosis or rubella

• Hyperbilirubinemia req Exchange, PPHN, ECMO

• Syndromes assoc with SNHL

• Neurodegenerative disorders

• Head Trauma & persistent OM with effusion

Checklist of speech –language milestones

• Birth to 3 months Startles to loud noise Awakens Blinks or widens eyes in response to sound

• 3-4 months Quiets to mother’s voice Stops playing, listens to new sounds Looks for source of sounds not in sight

• 6-9 months Enjoys musical toys Coos and gurgles with inflection Says “mama”

Checklist of speech –language milestones• 12-15 months responds to his or her name and “no” Follows simple requests Uses expressive vocabulary: 3-5 words Imitates sounds

• 18-24 months knows body parts 20-50 words, 2 word phrases 50% of speech intelligible to strangers

• 36 months approximately 500 words, 4-5 word sentences 80% intelligible to strangers: understands some verbs

JCIH Recommendation

• All children who pass the newborn screen but have risk indicators for auditory disorders or speech and language delay should receive ongoing audiologic and medical monitoring for HL and language development for the first 3 years of life.

Dilemma #2: 2 sets of babies

• The NICU graduate- Considered high risk for many ND sequelae. Many have routine longitudinal surveillance for 1-3 years and are less likely to fall through the cracks.

• The well baby nursery baby with a risk factor. Monitoring considered less important by family and primary provider and therefore more likely to be lost to FU.

Questions ?

• How is tracking of risk factors accomplished ?

• Is it cost effective to track all children with a risk factor ?

• Can it be accomplished on large populations ?

Longitudinal Assessment of Infants who pass but have a risk factor

• Whose responsibility is it ? The State EHDI system ?

The Medical Home ?

The Family ?

State EHDI Systems

• Tracking must be centralized

• There needs to be a centralized data management system.

• We need to have quality indicators for tracking infants with risk factors.

Data Management System Requirements

• Electronically store core demographic and hearing screen & assessment data elements

• Modifiable data model- protocols change

• Multi-user ability to access & retrieve data

• Protect and ensure security of confidential health care information

• Tracking and follow up capability

Benchmarking a Hearing Screen Program

Infants screened < 1 month >99%

1st stage (TEOAE/AABR) fail rate <4%

Rescreen return rate >90%

Diagnostic procedures on refers >90%

Referral age for intervention services <6m

Number referred to EI 100%

Follow-up of Infants with Risk Factors est 40%

Tracking for Risk Factors in Rhode Island

• NICU – thorough chart review completed to identify risk factors

• Well Baby Nursery – Risk factors identified through notations in the child’s Kardex entry and through nurse’s report

VRA Referral Process Primarily Risk Factors

• After newborn screen

• Letter to parent and PCP

• Audiology Network list

• At age 5 months

• Reminder letter to parents

• At age 6 months

• Second letter to parents

Diagnostic Protocol -six months corrected age

• Visual Reinforcement Audiometry

– insert earphones

– hidden, eye-level reinforcers

– 2-tester paradigm

• TEOAE or DPOAE

• Tympanometry/Acoustic Reflexes

Reporting of Dx Results

• Results requested for all RIHAP referrals

• To ensure all children receive follow-up

• Reporting is NOT mandatory

• Percentage Received

•VRA – 40%

Reporting of Dx Results

• Reports reviewed and coded by audiologist when received

• Referral to Early Intervention if appropriate

• RIHAP as “safety net” for EI referrals

• Results entered into RITRACK by Data Staff

RIHAP Referrals 2002

• 13,568 initial screens

• 232 (1.7%) did not pass the screen prior to discharge

• 379 (2.8%) passed and were referred on for monitoring due to risk factors

Determinants of successful Follow-up

• Medical Home awareness of risk factors, speech and language milestones, and the importance of follow-up.

• Family awareness of risk factors, speech and language milestones and importance of follow-up.

• A reliable tracking system

Unresolved issues

• What is the risk of late onset hearing loss for the current individual risk factors ?

• Are there adequate resources for tracking all children with risk factors ?