Effect of Preeclampsia and Gestational diabetes mellitus on Neonatal Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions: A Tertiary Care Center Study

Purpose: To determine whether preeclampsia and gestational diabetes mellitus is a risk factor for cochlear damage and sensorineural hearing impairment in infants. Materials and Methods: Longitudinal study was conducted in 2 tertiary referral centers. 1068 neonates were included, who were born to preeclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus, and healthy mothers. The hearing evaluation was done using DPOAE on day 2 and for those who failed the initial DPOAE on day 2, underwent repeat DPOAE on day 15, ABR was done on day 30 if repeat DPOAE was Refer. The results were compared between the groups and analyzed. Results: On initial DPOAE, bilateral ear absent DPOAE rates were 19.5%, 15.8%, and 3.5% among preeclampsia, Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM), control groups respectively. The difference was statistically significant (P <.001). Also it was noted that absent DPOAE was significantly high at low and mid frequencies (1000, 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hz) in bilateral ear. However the difference in repeat DPOAE among the groups were not significant (Right ear P =.17, Left ear P =.31). Infants who failed repeat DPOAE test underwent ABR test in which 3 of GDM group, 2 infants of preeclampsia group and 1 infant of control group had absent ABR test. Conclusion: This study reveals that GDM and preeclampsia showed remarkable association of hearing loss at lower and mid frequencies which was transient. The prevalence of absent DPOAE was corresponding to the severity of the maternal conditions under the study.