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Updated: Aug 17, 2026
Behavioral Assessment of Hearing in 2 to 4 Year-old Children: A Two-interval, Observer-based Procedure Using Conditioned Play-based Responses
Published on: January 23, 2017
Screening for neonatal hearing disorders in the Province of Central Finland
Insights
Early screening for congenital hearing disorders in infants is crucial. Delayed diagnosis, even with screening, can negatively impact speech development and hearing aid effectiveness.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Audiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Congenital hearing disorders affect approximately 90 infants annually in Finland.
- Screening programs for congenital hearing disorders have been active in Central Finland since 1967.
- The study focused on severe hearing impairments (over 45 dB), excluding mild to moderate cases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of existing newborn hearing screening programs.
- To identify delays in diagnosis and their impact on auditory rehabilitation.
- To advocate for nationwide implementation of hearing disorder screening.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of congenital hearing disorder cases identified between 1967-1971 in Central Finland.
- Comparison of outcomes for children diagnosed through screening versus those diagnosed later due to developmental delays.
- Assessment of hearing aid effectiveness based on age at diagnosis.
Main Results:
- 23 cases of congenital hearing disorders were identified in the study period.
- 12 children were diagnosed late (mean age 2 years) due to delayed speech development, despite screening.
- Children diagnosed later showed better responses to auditory tests and greater benefit from hearing aids.
Conclusions:
- Nationwide screening for congenital hearing disorders is recommended to prevent developmental delays.
- Delayed diagnosis negatively impacts rehabilitation outcomes.
- Healthcare providers should consider hearing impairment in infants with delayed speech or other congenital defects.
Abstract:
Screening for congenital hearing disorders in newborn infants has been carried out in the Province of Central Finland since 1967. In 1967-1971, a total of 23 children (12 boys and 11 girls) were found to have congenital hearind disorders. From this it can be calculated that 90 infants are born each year with congenital hearing disorders in Finland. Our sample did not include slight or moderate hearing disorders (under 45 dB). 11 children under the age of 18 months were provided with a hearing aid. In spite of the screening, 12 cases (mean age 2 years) were not diagnosed until they came to the phoniatric clinic because of delayed speech development. These children were presumably also congenitally deaf. Most of the children in the delayed group reacted favourably to the auropalpebral reflex test on the obstetrical ward; their speech development was better and they also profited more from having a hearing aid than those children whose hearing defect had been discovered earlier. Screening for hearing disorders should be made nation-wide in order to avoid the harmful effects of the delay of rehabilitation on the child's development. The possibility of a hearing disorder should be kept in mind in those cases where there is a delay in speech development and also in those cases where the child has some other severe congenital defect which demands the attention of the nursing staff.
