Elbeltagy Reem, AlObayed Waad, Mashbri Shatha, Alrasheed Robina, Albakiri Renad, Almulayfi Munira, Alkahtani Rania
Department of Health Communication Sciences, College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Front Pediatr. 2025 Aug 21;13:1623225. doi: 10.3389/fped.2025.1623225. eCollection 2025.
Newborn hearing screening is essential for the early detection of hearing loss, enabling timely intervention that supports communication and academic success. However, some children may develop delayed-onset hearing loss, which can go undetected without ongoing monitoring. Even mild hearing loss can affect educational development, highlighting the importance of preschool hearing screening. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of delayed-onset hearing loss in first-grade students who had previously passed newborn hearing screening, emphasizing the need for early identification.
A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 130 first-grade students. The screening protocol included otoscopic examination, Pure Tone Audiometry (PTA), tympanometry, and Transient Evoked Otoacoustic Emissions (TEOAE). Passing criteria were defined as PTA thresholds ≤20 dBHL at 500-4,000 Hz, Type A or Ad tympanogram, and a TEOAE signal-to-noise ratio ≥3 dB.
Of the participants, 80 (61.5%) passed the hearing screening, while 50 (38.5%) failed. Among those who failed, 43 (86%) showed abnormal tympanometry results, indicating potential conductive hearing loss, whereas 7 (14%) failed both OAE and PTA despite having normal tympanometry and were confirmed to have sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). The prevalence of delayed-onset SNHL was therefore 5.4%. Among the risk factors examined, consanguinity was significantly associated with the presence of hearing loss.
The observed 5.4% prevalence of delayed-onset sensorineural hearing loss among first-grade students underscores the importance of implementing preschool hearing screening to ensure early detection and timely intervention.
新生儿听力筛查对于早期发现听力损失至关重要，能够实现及时干预，以支持沟通和学业成就。然而，一些儿童可能会出现迟发性听力损失，如果没有持续监测，这种情况可能无法被发现。即使是轻度听力损失也会影响教育发展，这凸显了学龄前听力筛查的重要性。本研究旨在调查先前通过新生儿听力筛查的一年级学生中迟发性听力损失的患病率，强调早期识别的必要性。
进行了一项横断面研究，涉及130名一年级学生。筛查方案包括耳镜检查、纯音听力测定（PTA）、鼓室图测量和瞬态诱发耳声发射（TEOAE）。通过标准定义为在500 - 4000Hz时PTA阈值≤20dBHL、A型或Ad型鼓室图以及TEOAE信噪比≥3dB。
在参与者中，80名（61.5%）通过了听力筛查，而50名（38.5%）未通过。在未通过的人中，43名（86%）鼓室图测量结果异常，表明可能存在传导性听力损失，而7名（14%）尽管鼓室图正常但OAE和PTA均未通过，被确诊为感音神经性听力损失（SNHL）。因此，迟发性SNHL的患病率为5.4%。在所检查的风险因素中，近亲结婚与听力损失的存在显著相关。
在一年级学生中观察到的5.4%的迟发性感音神经性听力损失患病率强调了实施学龄前听力筛查以确保早期发现和及时干预的重要性。
