A comparison of auditory brain stem response and behavioral screening in high risk and normal newborn infants.

A total of 345 newborn infants received a behavioral screening consistent with protocol adopted by the Joint Committee on Infant Hearing. Infants were divided into three groups consisting of 108 at-risk for hearing loss, 80 intensive care nursery graduates, and 157 normal control infants. Of the total, 315 newborns received auditory brain stem response (ABR) assessment. The results suggest that 4% of the high risk population had irreversible hearing loss to such a degree that amplification was warranted. Discussion focuses on the questionable use of behavioral screening in the newborn nursery and the application of ABR in a high risk population.