Early Interventions Can Improve Hearing for Preterm Children
Research By: Lisa Hunter, PhD | Nehal Parikh, DO, MS
Post Date: July 1, 2023 | Publish Date: July 2023
Patient Services Research | Top Scientific Achievement
Ten times as many preterm infants compared to term babies have some degree of permanent hearing loss, which in turn can complicate speech, language and learning development as preterm-born children grow.
While parents and clinicians may detect the signs of severe hearing loss, signs of mild and moderate hearing loss are usually missed and thus miss a crucial opportunity for early intervention, according to a study led by Lisa Hunter, PhD, and Nehal Parikh, DO, MS.
The research team assessed the hearing of 375 preterm infants treated at five Cincinnati-based NICUs. They found that 32% of the infants exhibited some degree of hearing loss, and hearing loss was predictive of language at age 3 years. Notably, above average language scores were found only in children with excellent hearing levels. And surprisingly, standard newborn hearing tests missed 83% of apparent sensorineural loss in children ages 2 to 3 years.
“Early identification and intervention are crucial for improving outcomes in these vulnerable children,” Hunter says.
To detect milder levels of hearing loss, Cincinnati Children’s has begun using newer, more sensitive versions of testing methods such as distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE) and auditory brainstem responses (ABR). When hearing losses are detected, the study recommends coaching parents and caregivers to follow a set of “HEAR” interventions. These include establishing a “hearing bubble” for close-range interactions, “enhanced speech environments” emphasizing early reading and storytelling, “amplification” such as using personal hearing aids, and “remote microphones” that can help infants hear caregivers at greater distances.
Cincinnati Children’s co-authors included Jennifer Vannest, PhD, David R. Moore, PhD, Chelsea Blankenship, AuD, PhD, Lauren Prather, MS, and Jody Caldwell-Kurtzman, MCR, MEd, all with the Communication Sciences Research Center; and Maria Barnes-Davis, MD, PhD, of the Perinatal Institute.
Explore the 2024 Research Annual Report
| Original title: | Hearing, Speech, and Language in Infants and Toddlers Born Prematurely |
| Published in: | The Volta Review |
| Publish date: | July 2023 |
Research By
Latest Posts
About this blog
The Research Horizons blog features news and insights about the latest discoveries and innovations developed by the scientists of Cincinnati Children's. This blog does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Subscribe to Our Newsletter