ABSTRACT

Background: This study examined newborn hearing screening referral rates over a three-year period, including testing performed pre-pandemic (2019) and during the first two years (2020 and 2021) of the onset of the spread of COVID-19.

Method: This study conducted a retrospective analysis of 8,130 newborn hearing screening referral records from 2019– 2021, obtained from a large regional level II trauma center. These records were generated from the universal newborn hearing screening process that used automated auditory brainstem response devices.

Results: There was no significant change in the number of infants screened for hearing loss and hearing screening outcomes between the pre-pandemic and pandemic years. A significant portion of infants born in this hospital were premature. A significant portion of infants born to mothers who had COVID-19 during pregnancy were premature. There was no statistically significant finding for the referral rate of babies born to mothers who reported COVID-19 positivity during pregnancy when compared to babies whose mothers did not report such exposure.

Conclusion: COVID-19 during pregnancy may not have a significant negative effect on overall newborn hearing screening outcomes. However, infants born to mothers who had COVID-19 during pregnancy can be premature and those premature infants demonstrated higher referral rates. 

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