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01-07-2016 | Original Article

Auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD) in referrals from neonatal hearing screening at a well-baby clinic

Authors: A. Boudewyns, Frank Declau, Jenneke van den Ende, Anouk Hofkens, Sara Dirckx, Paul Van de Heyning

Published in: European Journal of Pediatrics | Issue 7/2016

Abstract

Auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD) is a particular kind of hearing disorder characterised by normal outer hair cell function and abnormal or absent auditory brain stem responses. Little data are available regarding the prevalence of this condition in healthy newborns. We performed a retrospective medical records review of 791 referrals from universal neonatal hearing screening (UNHS) at a well-baby clinic to investigate the prevalence of ANSD. Hearing screening was performed by automated auditory brain stem response (ABR) testing. A diagnosis of ANSD was established when ABR tracings were absent in the presence of otoacoustic emissions and/or a cochlear microphonic. Amongst 201 infants with confirmed congenital hearing loss, 13 infants were diagnosed with ANSD. The condition was unilateral in six and bilateral in seven infants. A risk factor for hearing loss could be identified in three infants. Abnormalities on magnetic resonance imaging were found in six infants; five of them had cochlear nerve deficiency.

Conclusion: The prevalence of ANSD was 6.5 % amongst well babies with confirmed congenital hearing loss identified through UNHS. The estimated incidence of ANSD in our population of newborns at the well-baby clinic was 0.09/1000 live births. Magnetic resonance revealed an underlying anatomical abnormality in about half of the patients.

What is known:

• Auditory neuropathy dyssynchrony spectrum disorder (ANSD) is a particular form of hearing loss, mostly encountered in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) graduates.

• Little data are available on the prevalence and risk factors for ANSD in healthy newborns.

What is new:

• The estimated prevalence of ANSD in healthy newborns is 0.09/1000 live births.

• In about half of the healthy newborns with ANSD, a structural abnormality was detected on magnetic resonance imaging of the posterior fossa/brain.

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Title: Auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD) in referrals from neonatal hearing screening at a well-baby clinic
Authors: A. Boudewyns
Frank Declau
Jenneke van den Ende
Anouk Hofkens
Sara Dirckx
Paul Van de Heyning
Publication date: 01-07-2016
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: European Journal of Pediatrics / Issue 7/2016
Print ISSN: 0340-6199
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1076
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-016-2735-5

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Auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD) in referrals from neonatal hearing screening at a well-baby clinic

Abstract

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