Prenatal ultrasound exposure and association with postnatal hearing outcomes

Journal of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery

Charles A Hughes¹  Jack C Borders²  Paul M Weinberger¹  Claude F Harbarger¹ 

[1] Department of Otolaryngology / Head and Neck Surgery, Georgia Regents University, 1120 15th Street, BP 4109, Augusta, GA 30912, USA;Department of Surgery-ENT / Maxillo Facial Surgery, Tawam Hospital, Johns Hopkins University, P.O. Box: 15258, Al-Ain, UAE

关键词: Hearing loss;    Ultrasound;    Prenatal;   

Others  :  862031
DOI  :  10.1186/1916-0216-42-3

 received in 2012-11-23, accepted in 2012-12-25,  发布年份 2013

【 摘 要 】

Objective

Prenatal ultrasound exams have become increasingly frequent. Although no serious adverse effects are known, the public health implications would be enormous should adverse effects on auditory development be shown. This study looks to establish a possible correlation between hearing loss and increased prenatal ultrasound exposure.

Design

Retrospective cohort analysis.

Setting

Tertiary academic referral center.

Methods

A retrospective review of 100 children undergoing newborn hearing screening was conducted. Extensive data collection was performed, and this data was analyzed for a potential correlation between failure of newborn hearing screening and increased prenatal ultrasound exposure, as well as for a potential correlation of other variables with hearing loss.

Main outcome measures

Postnatal hearing outcomes.

Results

A higher number of both total and 3^rd trimester ultrasound exams as well as a younger gestational age at birth were all found to be significantly associated with a higher likelihood of passing the newborn hearing screen (p<0.001 for each). No other factors were found to reach statistical significance.

Conclusions

Our results show that there is no correlation between a higher level of prenatal ultrasound exposure and hearing loss. Indeed, infants who had more prenatal ultrasounds in the third trimester were more likely to pass their screening hearing exams. The finding that children receiving more prenatal ultrasounds have a higher likelihood of passing newborn hearing screens serves as an excellent reminder of the classic statistics rule that correlation does not imply causation.

【 授权许可】

   
2013 Harbarger et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

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