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Neonatal screening for detection of deafness
Summary
Early infant deafness screening using acoustic tests and "at risk" registers proved insufficient. A restricted "at risk" register is recommended for cost-effectiveness in identifying hearing loss in newborns.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Audiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Early detection of deafness in newborns is crucial for timely intervention.
- Existing screening methods require evaluation for efficacy and practicality.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the effectiveness of an acoustic signal generator hearing test (Apriton) and an "at risk" for deafness register in identifying hearing loss in a newborn population.
- To determine the most suitable method for early deafness detection in infants.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal study involving 17,731 newborns in the Jerusalem area.
- Application of the "at risk" for deafness register to identify high-risk infants.
- Screening of all newborns using the Apriton acoustic signal generator hearing test.
Main Results:
- Twenty-five infants were identified with deafness (14 severe/profound, 11 moderate/moderately severe).
- The Apriton test demonstrated insufficient sensitivity for newborn deafness screening.
- The comprehensive "at risk" register (20% of newborns) was found to be expensive and impractical.
Conclusions:
- The Apriton screening test is not recommended for widespread newborn screening.
- A restricted "at risk" register, covering approximately 7% of newborns, is proposed as a more practical and cost-effective approach for identifying infants with potential hearing loss.