Hearing screening results according to the length of stay in the neonatal intensive care unit

Objectıve: In this study, it was aimed to compare the ABR test, stay and referral rates of babies staying in the neonatal intensive care unit according to their length of stay and to determine the relationship between risk factors that may cause hearing loss and the screening ABR test. Material-Method: Within the scope of this study, 75 babies who were treated in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Basaksehir Cam and Sakura City Hospital and Kanuni Sultan Süleyman Training and Research Hospital were included. These babies were divided into three groups as 5-10 days (25 babies), 10-20 days (25 babies), and 20-30 days (25 babies) according to their stay in the intensive care unit. Hearing tests of babies have been completed according to the latest Newborn Hearing Screening Program of the Ministry of Health. Results: As a result of the comparison between the groups, it was observed that babies who received treatment in the intensive care unit for 20-30 days had a higher rate of failing the hearing test (p <0.001). There was no significant relationship between risk factors that may cause hearing loss (hyperbilirubinemia, phototherapy, consanguineous marriage, ventilation therapy, etc.) and failures (p> 0.05). Conclusion: As the length of stay in the neonatal intensive care unit increases, the rate of babies' failure from hearing screening tests increases. In this context, the hospitalization periods of babies who receive treatment in intensive care should be considered in the hearing screening protocol. There is no relationship between risk factors that may cause hearing loss and hearing screening test results.