Neonatal hearing screening
Section snippets
Background and history
Neonatal hearing screening is an idea whose time has finally come. A review of the MEDLINE references from 1966 to 1995 that used the terms “newborn hearing screening” or “neonatal hearing screening” revealed a total of 25 references, whereas from 1996 to June 2002 a total of 96 references were found. The evolution and institution of newborn hearing screening has occurred for several reasons: (1) ready availability of technology that provides rapid and accurate identification of hearing loss in
Reasons for hearing screenings
Hearing loss is the most common birth defect, with an incidence of 1 to 3 in 1000 live births. This rate compares with that of two of the more common metabolic disorders for which newborn screening is employed— congenital hypothyroidism (with a rate of 0.25 in 1000 live births) and phenylketonuria (with a rate of 0.08 in 1000 live births)—and two of the more common congenital anomalies noted at birth—trisomy 21 (with a rate of 1 in 700 live births) and cleft palate (with a rate of 1 in 750 live
Potential downsides of newborn hearing screening
Newborn hearing screening is not without concern. The physiologic tests used—ABR and OAE—are not 100% sensitive and specific. Both false positives and false negatives can occur, the tests may need to be repeated several times—first in a screening mode and then in a diagnostic mode—to provide a definitive answer, and neonatal screening does not detect hearing loss that occurs outside the neonatal period. With each new screening program there is usually a “ramp-up” period, during which test
Costs of newborn screening
Any screening program needs to be considered cost effective to succeed. The 1999 AAP Task Force recognized this fact when they made as one of their recommendations “secure funding for the program” [17]. They noted that “funding through third party reimbursement is essential to cover the cost of the UNHSP, including the initial screen(s), as well as of diagnostic and intervention services.” and that additional studies needed to be done to quantify the cost of these services [16]. Vohr et al [19]
Types of tests for hearing screening
In the neonate, reactions to sudden, intense sound are primarily reflexive and include the Moro and aural palpebral reflexes and the arousal and cessation responses. Interpretation of these responses is subjective, and the responses themselves are subject to habituation, level of readiness to respond, effect of the prestimulus state, and the requirement for a loud sound to elicit any response at all. For these reasons, and the problems noted with the above earlier testing techniques, it seemed
Parent perspectives on newborn hearing screening
When parents find out that their infant has a hearing loss, they want unbiased information about the rehabilitation needed, the etiology of the loss, some prognostic information about how the loss will affect their child's communication, and whether the hearing loss will get worse. They also want to have contact with other families who have children with hearing loss, and they need time to process the complex information they receive about hearing loss. Their initial information often comes
The role of the otolaryngologist
The otolaryngologist is often one of the first physicians that the family and infant or child will meet in the course of the diagnosis of hearing loss. They may meet them at the time of their initial diagnostic ABR, for medical clearance for a hearing aid, or for further investigation into the etiology of the hearing loss. To be effective, the otolaryngologist must have some basic understanding of the support services needed and how to access them, and they also should be able to provide the
Summary
Neonatal hearing screening can be performed using reliable and reproducible methods. Intervention before the age of 6 months with hearing aids and appropriate educational support services will give the infant the best possible opportunity to develop language. Potential barriers to efficient implementation of a neonatal hearing screening program include access to appropriate and timely diagnostic and support services and insurance to cover the services [23]. Without universal neonatal hearing
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Position statement
Pediatrics
Screening all newborns for hearing impairment in a community hospital
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Cited by (26)
World of sounds (Seslerin Dünyası): A mobile auditory training game for children with cochlear implants
2024, International Journal of Pediatric OtorhinolaryngologyIncidence and factors associated with sensorineural and conductive hearing loss among survivors of congenital diaphragmatic hernia
2014, Journal of Pediatric SurgeryNeurodevelopmental and neurofunctional outcomes in children with congenital diaphragmatic hernia
2011, Early Human DevelopmentCitation Excerpt :Of note, late-onset SNHL with previous normal hearing tests has been reported in approximately half of the CDH survivors [54]. The overall prevalence of hearing impairment in CDH exceeds that of the general pediatric population (0.1%–0.2%) [55] and that of infants requiring neonatal intensive care postnatally for other problems (2%) [56]. Although several risk factors have been elucidated, the cause of SNHL in CDH remains speculative.
Results of applying a universal protocol for early detection of hypoacusia in newborn infants for 42 months
2008, Acta Otorrinolaringologica EspanolaHearing loss assessed by universal newborn hearing screening-The new approach
2007, International Journal of Pediatric OtorhinolaryngologyCitation Excerpt :General recommendations are to perform hearing screening in neonates within the 1st month (the latest at the age of 3 months), preferably in the delivery centers (2). Such approach would enable to start habilitation and treatment of the children with proved hearing impairment, before the 6th month of life [2,3]. Since the October 2002, hearing screening in neonates is performed in all Croatian delivery centers [4].
Results of newborn hearing screening in tepecik education and research hospital
2021, Anatolian Journal of Family Medicine