Selective Inner Hair Cell Loss in Premature Infants and Cochlea Pathological Patterns From Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Autopsies

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Abstract
HANDICAPPING sensorineural hearing impairment and deafness occur for unknown reasons in at least 2% to 4% of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) survivors, an incidence approximately 50 times greater than in normal newborns.1 This heightened vulnerability of critically ill neonates is underscored further by the fact that older critically ill pediatric and adult patients, even those who suffer cardiopulmonary arrest, are unlikely to develop hearing loss. Retrospective studies have suggested several possible causes for neonatal hearing loss2-7 but also have shown that it is impossible to predict which patients will be affected.8 These neonates depend on early auditory function to develop speech and language skills. Insight into the peculiar auditory susceptibility of NICU patients is necessary to optimize appropriate prenatal and postnatal clinical care intervention and to measure and maintain hearing function.

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