A new study led by Child Development Paediatricians at Queensland Children’s Hospital is investigating the potential link between gestational diabetes and congenital hearing loss in children.
Bayside Health Service Senior Medical Officer in Paediatrics Dr Kristy Kimlin is co-investigating the study with Dr Karen Liddle and Dr Nicolette Anderson.
“We know that one to two babies per 1000 births are diagnosed with congenital hearing loss,” Dr Kimlin said.
“More than half of these children are well infants with no known risk factors.”
The study aims to explore whether abnormal glucose levels during pregnancy, which can lead to various congenital anomalies, may also increase the risk of hearing loss.
“Gestational diabetes is complicating more pregnancies, with 15.3 per cent affected in 2021.
“We suspect a risk to the ear structures, suggesting that infants of diabetic mothers might be more likely to have congenital hearing loss,” she said.
Currently, the team is analysing data from 330,778 babies born over six years.
“To our knowledge, this is the largest study of its kind looking at maternal diabetes and congenital hearing loss,” Dr Kimlin said.
If a link is confirmed, the findings could have significant health implications.
“This may explain why some infants have congenital hearing loss without any known cause.
“An increased risk could encourage better glucose control during pregnancy to prevent hearing loss as a complication.”
The results of this study could pave the way for new guidelines in maternal health and preventive strategies, aiming to reduce the incidence of congenital hearing loss in infants.