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Abstract

Abstract

Introduction: Delayed diagnosis of pediatric hearing loss can cause delays in cognitive and social development. This study described the sociodemographic factors associated with delayed timing of a final hearing diagnosis after an abnormal newborn hearing screening (NBHS). Methods: Parent-infant dyads were recruited after being referred for further audiologic testing on an abnormal result from the NBHS. Results: Of the 53 participants, 55% (n=29) did not receive a final diagnosis by the recommended 3 months of age. Of those with a delayed diagnosis, 45% (n=13) had their first appointment within 3 months, but a delay was caused by an inconclusive or abnormal auditory brainstem response (ABR), middle ear pathology, or the presence of risk factors requiring additional testing. In a univariate analysis, older parental age (OR: 0.90, 95% CI: [0.82, 0.99]) and more total children in the household ([OR: 0.66, 95% CI: {0.18, 2.49}] for 1 child vs. 2 and [OR: 0.14, 95% CI: {0.03, 0.69}] for 1 children vs. 3 or more) were shown to were shown to significantly increase the odds of a delayed diagnosis, whereas younger infant age at first appointment (OR: 0.95, 95% CI: [0.92, 0.99]) was shown to significantly decrease the odds of a delayed diagnosis. In multivariate analyses, delayed diagnosis was also decreased by younger infant age at the initial appointment (OR=0.94, 95% CI: [0.90, 0.99]). Conclusions: Parental age, number of total children in the household, and timing of first appointment may predict delayed diagnosis. Because many patients with a delayed diagnosis attended an appointment within 3 months, further standardization of the process and targeted interventions for families could improve chances of achieving a diagnosis within the first appointment.

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