Examination of the Relationship between Umbilical Cord Blood Gas Values and Hearing Function in Neonates

Objective: The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between the results of the transient otoacoustic emission (TEOAE) test used in neonatal hearing screening and the results of the umbilical cord blood (UCB) analysis in neonates.

Methods: This retrospective study included 209 neonates born in the obstetric unit at the 37^th gestational week. Based on the results of the TEOAE test, the neonates included in the study were divided into two groups as the study group composed of those "REFER" (n=141) and the control group consisting those "PASS" (n=68) the test. The UCB sampling procedure was performed on all neonates. In the blood samples, the pH parameters were evaluated by using glass electrodes, and the pCO₂ and pO₂ parameters were evaluated directly by using sensitive electrodes.

Results: When the additional maternal diseases were compared with the TEOAE results, the ratio of hypothyroidism was found to be statistically higher in the study group (p<0.05). In terms of the pO₂, pCO₂, HCO₃, and pH values obtained as a result of analyzing the UCB samples, there was no statistically significant difference between the groups (p>0.05).

Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that there was no statistically significant difference between the results of UCB analysis and the TEOAE test. However, we believe that conducting a larger study evaluating other parameters and employing UCB analysis would be useful, and UCB evaluation, which is an inexpensive, easy and effective method in determining hypoxia in neonates, might be a significant marker in cases at risk of hearing loss.