ABSTRACT
Purpose
To evaluate the audiological findings of newborns exposed to maternal syphilis, properly treated during pregnancy.
Methods
This was a single, non-concurrent cohort study conducted in a public hospital. The sample included newborns whose mothers had positive syphilis serology and who underwent adequate treatment during pregnancy, composing the study group, and newborns without risk indicators for hearing loss, as a comparison group.
Results
Ninety newborns participated in the study, 41 were the study group and 49 were the comparison group. In the transient evoked otoacoustic emissions test, all newborns showed a bilateral response, and when comparing the amplitudes of responses in the 3.0 kHz, 3.5 kHz and 4.0 kHz frequency bands, a smaller amplitude of response in the studied group with a statistically significant difference for the frequency of 4 kHz on the right was observed. An analysis of the response of the brainstem auditory evoked potential test showed no asymmetry of response between the ears that suggest a retrocochlear alteration, nor difference in the values of absolute latencies or interpeak intervals between groups.
Conclusion
The electroacoustic responses were slightly lower in newborns exposed to maternal syphilis, whereas their electrophysiological responses were similar to those found in the population at low risk for hearing loss.
Keywords:
Syphilis, Congenital; Syphilis; Hearing; Electrophysiology; Infant