Diagnosis and description of preterm infants with hearing loss
detected under newborn hearing screening
Introduction: All babies born in Queensland are screened for hearing loss soon after
birth through the Queensland Healthy Hearing, Newborn Hearing Screening Program
(Queensland Health). Hear and Say, a program teaching children with hearing loss
to listen and speak, will work in partnership with Professor David Tudehope (an
extremely experienced neonatologist and researcher from Mater Mother's Research
Institute) to conduct a study examining specific aetiological factors for pre-term
infants diagnosed with a permanent hearing loss. This study will include a focussed
literature review which would help define the ongoing aims and objectives of the
project, and ensure the study is novel and does not duplicate already published
work. The study has already been designed and initiated by an Honours student
from the University of Queensland.
Applications are called for a volunteer MBBS Year 2 student, with a view for the
successful student to continue on to an Honours program in 2015 and collaborate
with the current team to complete data gathering, analysis and write-up. The
student will assist with an ongoing literature review on this topic to determine current
research in the area and knowledge gaps. A case control study will be conducted
with two controls for each preterm baby with sensori-neural hearing loss. A data
extraction tool will be used to undertake a retrospective chart review to determine
contributing factors to the hearing loss, its outcomes and any concurrent features of
this population.
Aims & Objectives: To gain information on the diagnostic process and aetiology and
describe the concurrent features of the population of preterm infants diagnosed
with hearing loss through Universal Newborn Hearing Screening in Queensland. The
outcomes of this study will be used to inform government and decision makers. This
study will also develop the foundation for future outcomes research which will
enhance the diagnosis, treatment and counselling of preterm infants with hearing
loss and their families.
Study Design: This study will consist of three phases:
 Phase 1 – Literature Review
 Phase 2 – Individual chart review for preterm infants with hearing loss and
case controls
 Phase 3 – Analysis and publication of results of pilot project
Data Sources:
 Healthy Hearing Queensland database 2009-2013
 Queensland Perinatal Data Collection unit database
 Medical charts of cases and controls
Study population: Preterm infants diagnosed with a moderate or greater bilateral
permanent sensori-neural hearing loss with no existing syndrome of hearing loss or
already known medical conditions causing hearing loss.
Ethical Considerations:
*The study has received appropriate ethics and research governance approval. An
important element of the student's honours project will be applying to be added and
acknowledged as a coordinating principle researcher for this project.
Study Outcomes and Significance:
This study will make a significant contribution to the knowledge of outcomes for
preterm infants with hearing loss.
Future Research: Funding for a later stage of this project targeting speech and
language outcomes for these children is currently being sought through the
Australian Centre for Health Services Innovation (AusHSI)
Please forward your expression of interest and curriculum vitae to:
Adjunct Associate Professor Dimity Dornan
dimity@hearandsaycentre.com.au
Supervisors will include:
Professor David Tudehope, Professor of Paediatrics and Child Health, UQ and Mater
Medical Research Institution.
Adjunct Associate Professor Dimity Dornan, Department of Speech and Hearing,
School of Health and Rehabilitation Services, Founder and Executive Director of Hear
and Say.
Dr Gabriella Constantinescu, Lead Researcher, Hear and Say.
Trent Calcutt, current principle researcher, student of MBBS (Hons) UQ
Successful applicants will be interviewed and notified as soon as possible.