Hearing loss

Babies who are admitted to intensive care are more likely to have hearing loss, and more likely to have a delay in their development, than babies who have not needed admission to intensive care.

Dr Sally Thornton from the University of Nottingham wants to explore how we can predict hearing loss in these babies admitted to neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).

There are lots of studies looking at the risk factors for hearing loss but not many looking at the early blood tests that could predict a hearing loss.

In this study, Dr Thornton's team plans to identify which blood tests are best at predicting which babies will have hearing loss and which are important to detect a delay in the child's development.

For example, in previous study Thornton discovered that a protein in the blood - called C-reactive protein - was much higher in babies who were later diagnosed with hearing loss compared to babies without hearing loss.

The team plan to set up a database to record blood test information and developmental outcome data which is already routinely collected for babies admitted to NICU. This database will provide the foundation for a large national study to uncover which blood tests are important for hearing loss prediction.

By discovering which children are at higher risk of hearing loss, we will know which children need to be more carefully monitored by doctors. And in the longer run, finding out which are the important early markers for hearing loss could lead to better prevention strategies, and earlier treatment.

Thornton's overall aim is to improve the health and hearing outcomes for all children admitted to intensive care.