[Neonatal hearing loss screening: our results three years after starting the program]

Area of Science:

• Neonatal screening
• Audiology
• Public health

Context:

• Growing interest in early detection of neonatal hearing loss since the 1990s.
• Development of universal neonatal screening programs utilizing otoacoustic emissions (OAEs).
• Increased research publications in the field of neonatal hearing loss.

Purpose:

• To implement and evaluate a neonatal hearing loss screening program using otoacoustic emissions.
• To assess the sensitivity and specificity of the otoacoustic emission test in a hospital setting.
• To determine the incidence of hearing loss in screened neonates.

Summary:

• A hospital-based neonatal hearing loss screening program was established in March 2000, using Capella Cochlear Emissions equipment.
• The test was performed on 6372 children with a median age of 71 days by May 2003.
• The study reported a sensitivity of 90.9% and a specificity of 99.7%, with a lower incidence of hearing loss than other studies.

Impact:

• Demonstrates the feasibility and effectiveness of OAE-based neonatal hearing screening.
• Provides valuable data on the performance of OAE screening in a real-world clinical setting.
• Contributes to the understanding of hearing loss incidence and the importance of early intervention in neonates.