Regional differences of Turkey in risk factors of newborn hearing loss

Perception of voice cues in school-age children with hearing aids

The just-noticeable differences (JNDs) of the voice cues of voice pitch (F0) and vocal-tract length (VTL) were measured in school-aged children with bilateral hearing aids and children and adults with normal hearing. The JNDs were larger for hearing-aided than normal-hearing children up to the age of 12 for F0 and into adulthood for all ages for VTL. Age was a significant factor for both groups for F0 JNDs, but only for the hearing-aided group for VTL JNDs. Age of maturation was later for F0 than VTL. Individual JNDs of the two groups largely overlapped for F0, but little for VTL. Hearing thresholds (unaided or aided, 500-400 Hz, overlapping with mid-range speech frequencies) did not correlate with the JNDs. However, extended low-frequency hearing thresholds (unaided, 125-250 Hz, overlapping with voice F0 ranges) correlated with the F0 JNDs. Hence, age and hearing status differentially interact with F0 and VTL perception, and VTL perception seems challenging for hearing-aided children. On the other hand, even children with profound hearing loss could do the task, indicating a hearing aid benefit for voice perception. Given the significant age effect and that for F0 the hearing-aided children seem to be catching up with age-typical development, voice cue perception may continue developing in hearing-aided children.

Newborn hearing screening results: Comparison of Syrian and Turkish newborns; factors influencing the difference

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to compare the hearing screening results of Syrian and Turkish newborns and reveal the risk factors faced by Syrian refugees.

METHODS

The neonatal hearing screening results of newborns born in, or admitted to, the Sanliurfa Research and Education Hospital, Sanliurfa/Turkey, between January 01, 2018, and December 31, 2018, were analyzed. Newborns with congenital anomalies and syndromes were excluded from the study. Also, the neonatal hearing screening results and risk factors of newborns diagnosed with hearing loss were analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 6034 Syrian and 37,219 Turkish newborns were included in the study. Hearing loss was found in 84 (0.2%) of 37,219 Turkish newborns and 26 (0.4%) of 6034 Syrian newborns. In this study, the risk factors such as consanguineous marriages, familial hearing loss, hospitalization in intensive care, prematurity, low birth weight (less than 1500 g), hyperbilirubinemia, use of ototoxic drugs, history of congenital infection, blood incompatibility, and trauma at birth were found in newborns with hearing loss. The risk factors were present in 41.7% of Turkish newborns and 65.4% of Syrian newborns with hearing loss.

CONCLUSIONS

The high hearing loss rates found in Syrian newborns showed how accurate it was to include the Syrian migrants born in Turkey into the neonatal hearing screening program and the newborns with hearing loss into appropriate rehabilitation programs. Further studies should focus on the risk factors faced by Syrian migrants so that the number of Syrian newborns with hearing loss can be reduced.

Comparison of hearing screening results of Syrian refugees and Turkish newborns

OBJECTIVE

To analyze Turkish (Host) and Syrian (Refugee) newborn hearing screening results and factors of risk.

METHODS

All newborns between 02.12.2017 and 31.06.2019 were screened with Automated Auditory Brainstem Response (AABR) test. A total of 874 newborns were examined (172 refugee and 702 host newborns). All screened patients were questioned in terms of consanguineous marriage, speech disorder in family, delivery method (normal vaginal birth/caesarean birth), birth weight, birth week, newborn intensive care unit (ICU) necessity, newborn icterus and phototherapy.

RESULT

As for the host newborns, 360 (51.3%) passed ABR screening, 161 (23%) failed in either one ear, and 181 (25.8%) failed both ears. As for the refugee newborns, 60 (34.9%) passed ABR screening, 38 (22.1%) failed in either one ear, and 74 (43.0%) failed both ears. There was a significant statistical difference between host and refugee newborns' ears in terms of hearing loss detected in the screening test (p = 0.017). In terms of delivery method, the caesarean rate was higher in refugees, and a statistically significant difference existed between two groups (p = 0.023). There was a significant difference between refugee newborns and host newborns in terms of newborn ICU necessity rate (p = 0.014).

CONCLUSIONS

It was demonstrated clearly that hearing screening test results between the two groups were affected by low socio-economic level when host and refugees newborns were compared. In line with the findings of this study, it should be taken into account that bad living conditions depending on war and immigration throughout pregnancy, delivery method, and the need for newborn ICU in the newborn period may affect hearing results in newborns significantly.

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.

Home environment of infants with risk indicators for hearing loss tends to be less stimulating

OBJECTIVE

To verify the home opportunities to the motor development offered to infants with and without risk indicators for hearing loss (RIHL).

METHODS

Observational transversal study was done with infants between 8 and 10 months, being 77 with RIHL (Study Group-SG) and 77 without RIHL (Control Group-CG) The instrument used to characterize the sample and obtain information about the home affordances was the questionnaire Affordances in the Home Environment for the Motor Development - Infant Scale (AHEMD-IS). The results of the AHEMD-IS between the groups were compared using the Mann-Whitney and Chi-Squared tests. The significance test adopted for the study was 5%.

RESULTS

Absolute values in the frequency of homes considered "moderately adequate" and "less than adequate" were greater in the SG in the most part of the categories, except the item Toys for Fine Motricity. It was possible to observe a statistically significant difference in the Total Score of the groups (p-value = 0.01346). Even with better results when compared with the SG, the number of homes of the CG group with affordances below expected is more than half of the sample.

CONCLUSIONS

It was possible to verify that home of infants with risk indicators for hearing loss have statistically less affordances when compared to the homes of infants without the indicators. The results alert us to the need of orientation to the infant's responsible/caretakers regarding to the importance of a favorable environment with stimulation of the infant motor development.