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[Mass screening for detection of infants with hearing impairment. I. Methods and process of the mass screening
M Nishi1, I Hamajima, T Uemura
1Sapporo Toyohira Health Center.
Insights
A mass screening program identified infant hearing impairment with a prevalence of 1 in 1,693. This early detection system, utilizing questionnaires and behavioral tests, is recommended for routine child health programs.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Audiology
- Public Health
Context:
- Infant hearing impairment poses significant developmental risks.
- Early detection is crucial for timely intervention and improved outcomes.
- A mass screening program was implemented in Hokkaido, Japan.
Purpose:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of a mass screening program for detecting hearing impairment in infants.
- To determine the prevalence of hearing impairment in the screened infant population.
- To assess the accuracy and feasibility of the screening methodology.
Summary:
- A screening program screened 5,676 infants aged 4 months using questionnaires.
- Nine infants were referred for otolaryngological examination, leading to the identification of three cases of hearing impairment.
- The prevalence rate was determined to be 1 in 1,693 infants, with a 5% false positive rate. True positives were confirmed later using behavioral hearing tests.
- No false negatives were identified.
Impact:
- The study recommends integrating this mass screening system into routine child health programs.
- Early identification of hearing impairment enables prompt intervention, potentially mitigating long-term developmental consequences.
- The findings support the public health strategy of universal infant hearing screening.
Abstract:
A mass screening program to detect infants with hearing impairment was conducted at the Sapporo Toyohira Health Center in Hokkaido. Between April 1988 and March 1990, 5,676 infants were screened by a questionnaire at the time of the 4-month health examination. Out of the 5,080 cases who could be followed, nine infants underwent thorough otolaryngological examinations, and among the nine infants three cases with hearing impairment were detected. The prevalence rate was, therefore, one case out of 1,693 infants. Although false positive cases amounted to about 5% of the initial infant population, true positive cases were confirmed out of the initially screened positive cases at 7 or 10 months of age through other questionnaires and through behavioral hearing tests using a bell. No false negative cases were found. Inclusion of this mass screening system in the routine child health program is recommended.