1Assistant Professor,
2Associate Professor,
3Professor and HOD,
4Assistant Professor,
5Assistant Professor,
*Corresponding Author: Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Shrivastava, Associate Professor,
Brainstem Evoked Response Audiometry (BERA), is considered as the most sensitive and specific test of hearing assessment in new-born and is beneficial for early detection of hearing impairment in preterm babies.
BERA was recorded in preterm babies for determining the hearing threshold and to assess severity of hearing loss.
50 preterm babies were selected on the basis of inclusion and exclusion criteria for the study. BERA was performed using RMS EMG EP MK II machine, wave V hearing threshold was determined and interpreted.
Majority (52%) of the preterm babies in the study group were identified as having Mild grade hearing impairment (better ear hearing threshold between >26-40dB), 30% of the babies had Moderate grade hearing impairment (better ear hearing threshold between 41-60dB)
Screening by BERA at an early age in preterm babies is beneficial for early diagnosis of hearing impairment, so that possible early interventions can be implemented to prevent developmental delays in preterm babies.
BERA, Hearing Impairment, Hearing threshold, Preterm