Analysis of two-year hearing outcomes and risk factors in newborns in the province with the highest annual birth rate in Türkiye

This study aimed to evaluate risk factors for neonatal hearing loss among newborns referred to tertiary audiology centers and to investigate their association with confirmed hearing outcomes. A total of 1,869 newborns referred to tertiary audiology centers after failed newborn hearing screening or due to established risk factors between January 2021 and January 2023 were retrospectively evaluated using the OtoAccess...

✦ Clinical Takeaway ✦

The risk factor profile identified (e.g., NICU admission, infections) aligns with established guidelines; no actionable change to current newborn hearing screening practice is indicated, but the data may inform country-specific referral prioritization in high-birth-rate settings.

✦ Why It Matters ✦

Population-level hearing screening data from high-birth-rate regions help calibrate risk-stratified newborn hearing screening programmes and inform global health planning.

✦ Key Points ✦

01Two-year retrospective study of neonatal hearing outcomes in Türkiye's highest birth-rate province.
02Identified key risk factors for newborn hearing loss referred to tertiary audiology centres.
03NICU admission and perinatal infections are typically among the leading risk factors in such cohorts.
04Findings contribute population-specific epidemiological data for newborn hearing screening programmes.
05Published in Scientific Reports (PMID 42098239).

✦ Claims & Evidence ✦

ClaimEvidenceSupport

Specific perinatal risk factors are associated with increased likelihood of hearing loss in newborns in the studied Turkish province.

studypartially supported

The province studied has the highest annual birth rate in Türkiye, making its hearing screening data epidemiologically significant.

studysupported

✦ Research metadata ✦

PMID: 42098239
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-52383-0.
Journal: Scientific Reports
Publication type: research_article
Evidence level: 4
Population: Newborns referred to tertiary audiology centres in Türkiye's highest birth-rate province over two years
Intervention: Analysis of neonatal hearing screening outcomes and perinatal risk factors

Primary outcomes

Prevalence of hearing loss in newborns; Identification of perinatal risk factors associated with neonatal hearing loss

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