Hearing Screening — Risk Indicators — Clinical Pathway

Hearing Screening Clinical Pathway — Primary Care

Risk Indicators Associated with Permanent Congenital, Delayed-onset or Progressive Hearing Loss in Childhood

Family history* of early, progressive, or delayed onset permanent hearing loss
Neonatal intensive care of more than 5 days
Hyperbilirubinemia with exchange transfusion regardless of length of stay
Aminoglycoside administration for more than five days**
Asphyxia or Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)*
In utero infections such as CMV*, herpes, rubella, toxoplasmosis, syphilis, Zika
Certain birth conditions or findings such as:
  • Craniofacial malformations including microtia/atresia, ear dysplasia, oral facial clefting, white forelock, microphthalmia, congenital microcephaly
  • Congenital or acquired hydrocephalus
  • Temporal bone abnormalities
Over 400 syndromes associated with atypical hearing***
Culture positive bacterial or viral infections associated with sensorineural hearing loss*** (especially herpes, varicella, meningitis, or encephalitis)
Significant head trauma, especially basal skull or temporal bone fractures
Chemotherapy
Caregiver concern**** regarding hearing, speech, language, developmental delay or developmental regression

*Infants increased risk of delayed onset or progressive hearing loss
**Infants with toxic levels or with known genetic susceptibility remain at risk
***Syndromes  
****Parent/caregiver concern should always prompt further evaluation

Source

(2019). Year 2019 Position Statement: Principles and Guidelines for Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Programs. Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention, 4(2), 1-44. DOI: 10.15142/fptk-b748

Retrieved from https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/jehdi/vol4/iss2/1