A Cross Sectional Study of Assessment of Hearing in Infants of Gestational Diabetes Mothers

Abstract

Introduction: Hearing loss is one of the most prevalent congenital disorders in infants. Neonatal hearing screening is an important tool for early detection of hearing impairment in newborns. Present study is aimed to assess the impact of hearing among babies born to gestational diabetic mothers.

Material & Methods: This study was conducted among 100 pregnant mothers who gave birth in Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department in a medical college in Pondicherry from December 2020 to July 2022. 50 pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) were assigned to Group 1 and 50 pregnant women who had no GDM were assigned to Group 2. Hearing screening among the infants were done using Otoacoustic emissions and Brainstem evoked response audiometry (OAE and BERA). The results in Group 1 and Group 2 were collected, analysed and compared.

Results: All patients were between 20 – 45 years of age. The average gestational age was 39.2±5.7 from 36 weeks to 42 weeks. In the present study OAE has shown that 40% babies had bilateral refer and 18% had unilateral refer in GDM mothers which significantly higher than the normal mothers. BERA showed that 14% had hearing loss among those of the GDM mothers which was significantly higher than the normal mothers. Comparison of abnormal hearing screening between the two groups were significant (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Gestational diabetes mellitus increases the risk of hearing impairment in newborns. Timely detection and standardised management should be followed and early intervention procedures should be studied and developed.