Ms Alison Collins1, Dr Rachael Beswick2, Associate Professor Carlie Driscoll1, Associate Professor Joseph Kei1
1University Of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia, 2Children’s Health Queensland, Healthy Hearing Program, Nundah, 4012
Background: Infants diagnosed with a conductive hearing loss (CHL) can be at increased risk for developmental delays. Using a sample of infants diagnosed with CHL through UNHS, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between specific demographic or clinical characteristics and 1) occasions of service to reach a hearing diagnosis and 2) profile of CHL.
Method: Retrospective analysis was conducted for all infants born between 01/01/2007 and 31/12/2018 who had received UNHS. Chi squared analysis was then conducted on 1,208 records.
Results: Infants diagnosed with a CHL and ≥ risk factor for hearing loss were more likely to attend more than three occasions of service. Infants who were bilateral refer /medical exclusion from screen, identified as Torres Strait Islander, had ≥1 risk factors for hearing loss, or were born pre-term were more likely to be diagnosed with a bilateral CHL. Mild to moderate was the most frequent degree of CHL identified for both infants with a unilateral or bilateral CHL, although laterality did not predict the severity of CHL. Infants with a syndrome were more likely to have a bilateral than unilateral CHL and those with risk factors of craniofacial abnormality, prolonged ventilation, or syndrome were more likely to be diagnosed with a mild to moderate CHL than other degrees.
Conclusion: For infants with CHL, there were many characteristics that showed an increased likelihood of being diagnosed with a bilateral rather than unilateral CHL. These characteristics were less likely to predict occasions of service (≥ 3), with only one factor demonstrating an increased likelihood of occasions of service through UNHS. Infants with at least a single risk factor could predict the likelihood of a particular profile of CHL (unilateral vs bilateral and degree). These findings could be used to create alternative care pathways for infants diagnosed with CHL through UNHS
Biography:
Alison has worked in diagnostic paediatrics for the past 9 years. More recently she has also worked in adult medical and aural rehabilitation. Her primary experience is related to infant diagnostics, paediatrics (general and complex), Indigenous ear health and has led and contributed to research in these fields. Alison is also completing her PhD in the assessment and management of conductive hearing loss in paediatric populations. In the past year, she has also opened her own practice in rural Queensland.