Are there any risk factors for hearing loss in newborns?
Yes, there are certain factors in the newborn’s history that may increase the chance of hearing loss: • Severe depression at birth, which may include an Apgar score of 0-4 at 1 minute or 0-6 at 5 minutes • Birth weight less than 1500 grams • Bacterial or viral meningitis • Crainiofacial anomalies including abnormalities of the pinna and ear canal, low hairline and cleft palate • Findings associated with a syndrome known to include hearing loss, such as Down or Waardenburg • Hyperbilirubinemia requiring exchange transfusion • Ototoxic drugs given to the baby such as gentamicin, kanamycin, furosemide • ECMO (extra corporal membrane oxygenation) • Prolonged mechanical ventilation for 5 days or longer • Persistent plimonary hypertension • Congenital infections, such as toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus, herpes, and syphilis • Family history of hereditary childhood sensorineural hearing loss
