Abstract Introduction For the population with risk factors for hearing loss, the first option to assess the hearing status is the performance of the automated brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAEP) test because of its efficacy in identifying retrocochlear hearing loss. Objective To verify the outcomes of automated BAEP performed in different settings as well as the factors associated with the prevalence of hearing impairment. Methods Cross-sectional study conducted from October of 2014 to May of 2015. The sample consisted of 161 infants with at least one risk factor for hearing loss who underwent automated BAEP during the hospital stay or at the outpatient clinic. After 30 days, the altered cases were referred for BAEP diagnosis. Results One hundred and thirty-eight infants (86%) had a result of “pass” and 23 (14%) of “failure” in the automated BAEP. There was no statistically significant difference in the rate of “referred” results between examinations performed in different settings. The infants' ages did not influence the number of abnormal cases. All of the 23 infants who presented a “referred” result in the automated BAEP, unilateral or bilateral, were sent for BAEP diagnosis, and out of these, 9 (39%) remained with at least some degree of alteration. The average age of diagnosis was 2.7 months. Conclusion The results of the automated BAEP were similar when performed during hospitalization or after discharge. Neither the age at the examination nor the gender of the patient influenced the prevalence of hearing loss.

INTRODUÇÃO: O diagnóstico precoce da surdez minimiza impactos no desenvolvimento infantil. Fatores que interferem na efetividade dos programas de triagem são estudados.OBJETIVO: Verificar a relação entre sexo, peso ao nascimento, idade gestacional, presença de risco para deficiência auditiva, local de realização da triagem auditiva neonatal e resultados "passa" e "falha" no reteste.MÉTODO: Estudo de coorte prospectiva, em hospital de referência terciário. A triagem foi realizada em 565 neonatos, por meio das emissões otoacústicas evocadas transientes, em três unidades de internação antes da alta hospitalar e o reteste, no ambulatório. Sexo, peso ao nascimento, idade gestacional, presença de indicadores de risco para deficiência auditiva e local de realização do exame foram considerados.RESULTADOS: Nasceram a termo 86%, prematuros 14% e risco para deficiência auditiva, 11%. Dentre os 165 neonatos retestados, apenas o local de realização do exame, Unidade de Cuidados Intermediários, se relacionou com manutenção da "falha" no reteste.CONCLUSÕES: Sexo, peso ao nascimento, idade gestacional e presença de indicadores de risco para deficiência auditiva não se relacionaram com "passar" e/ou "falhar" no reteste. A realização do exame em unidades de cuidados intermediários aumenta a chance de permanência de "falha" no exame de Emissões Otoacústicas Evocadas Transientes.

INTRODUCTION: Early diagnosis of hearing loss minimizes its impact on child development. We studied factors that influence the effectiveness of screening programs.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between gender, weight at birth, gestational age, risk factors for hearing loss, venue for newborn hearing screening and "pass" and "fail" results in the retest.METHODS: Prospective cohort study was carried out in a tertiary referral hospital. The screening was performed in 565 newborns through transient evoked otoacoustic emissions in three admission units before hospital discharge and retest in the outpatient clinic. Gender, weight at birth, gestational age, presence of risk indicators for hearing loss and venue for newborn hearing screening were considered.RESULTS: Full-term infants comprised 86% of the cases, preterm 14%, and risk factors for hearing loss were identified in 11%. Considering the 165 newborns retested, only the venue for screening, Intermediate Care Unit, was related to "fail" result in the retest.CONCLUSIONS: Gender, weight at birth, gestational age and presence of risk factors for hearing loss were not related to "pass" and/or "fail" results in the retest. The screening performed in intermediate care units increases the chance of continued "fail" result in the Transient Otoacoustic Evoked Emissions test.