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Pediatric Otolaryngology

(205) Five Year Comparison of Newborn Hearing Screening Data and COVID19

Monday, October 2, 2023
2:45 PM – 3:45 PM East Coast USA Time
Has Audio

    Presenting Author(s)

  • Kilee A. Bayne, DO

    Resident Physician
    Bon Secour Mercy Health St Elizabeth Boardman
    Boardman, Ohio, United States

    • Co-Author(s)

  • AS

    Avi Shaw, DO

    Resident
    Mercy/St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospital/LECOM
    Youngstown, Ohio, United States

    • Senior Author(s)

  • Anita Jeyakumar, MD MS

    Director Otology and Cochlear Implant Programs
    Bon Secour Mercy Health St Elizabeth Boardman Hospital
    Akron, Ohio, United States

Disclosure(s):
Kilee A. Bayne, DO: No relevant relationships to disclose.
Avi Shaw, DO: No relevant relationships to disclose.
Anita Jeyakumar, MD MS: No relevant relationships to disclose.


Introduction: To compare the rates of newborn hearing screenings and referral to early intervention during the years 2015 to 2020. To assess the impact of COVID19 on newborn hearing screening rates and implementation of early intervention for hearing loss patients

Methods: We collected data from the CDC (center for disease prevention) website which reported Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Hearing Screening & Follow-up Survey (HSFS) data for each year from 2015 to 2020. We analyzed total live births, total patients screened, percent not passing screening, no documented screening, prevalence of permanent hearing loss, percent diagnosed overall, percent diagnosed with hearing loss, percent diagnosed overall < 3 months old, percent lost to follow up, referral to early intervention, hearing loss patients not referred to early intervention, percent enrolled in early intervention < 6 months old, and percent lost to follow up for early intervention. These values were compared from year to year on a national basis and then on a state-by-state basis (p-value < 0.05).

Results: From 2015 to 2020, the total number of live births nationally decreased. Patients screened improved from 95.5% to 97.2% (p-value=0.47). Patients that failed hearing screening was increased in 2020 (1.9%) compared to prior years (avg 1.7%) (p-value=0.49). Patients diagnosed overall with normal or hearing loss significantly decreased in 2020 (60.6%) compared to prior years (avg 75.9%) (p-value=0.38). Patients lost to follow up after diagnosis significantly increased in 2020 (29.9%) compared to prior years (avg 26.3%) (p-value=0.32). Patients documented with hearing loss referred to early intervention decreased in 2020 (78.5%) compared to prior years (avg 87.5%) (p-value=0.41).

Conclusions: There was a statistically significant difference in the percent of patients diagnosed overall, with hearing loss and lost to follow-up in 2020 compared prior 4 years indicating COVID19 had an impact on newborn hearing screening and referral to early intervention. More study is needed to further assess the implications of hearing loss in newborns during the pandemic.