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Neonatal hearing screening in Albania: results from an ongoing universal screening program
Stavros Hatzopoulos1, Birkena Qirjazi, Alessandro Martini
1Audiology Department, University of Ferrara, Italy. sdh1@unife.it
Insights
This study evaluated a neonatal hearing screening program in Albania, finding it can detect congenital hearing loss. Improving data collection on risk factors is key to estimating hearing loss incidence in the Albanian population.
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Public Health
- Neonatal Care
Background:
- Neonatal hearing loss is a significant concern requiring early detection.
- Albania lacks established universal neonatal hearing screening programs.
- Identifying risk factors in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the feasibility of implementing a universal neonatal hearing screening program in Albania.
- To determine the prevalence of hearing loss risk factors within the Albanian NICU population.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE) for screening.
Main Methods:
- Screened 1561 infants from well-baby (WB) and NICU settings using TEOAE.
- Collected detailed histories of potential hearing loss risk factors for each infant.
- Analyzed screening data to identify factors influencing program outcomes.
Main Results:
- The screening program demonstrated the capacity to identify infants with congenital hearing loss.
- A high prevalence of risk factors was observed in the NICU population.
- Effective program delivery, including an informative component, is essential for success.
Conclusions:
- A well-structured neonatal hearing screening program is feasible and effective in Albania.
- Reducing 'case leakage' is necessary for accurate estimation of hearing loss incidence.
- Further refinement of the program can improve identification rates and public health outcomes.
Abstract:
The paper describes the outcomes of an ongoing universal hearing screening program in Tirana, Albania. The main objectives of the project were the evaluation of the feasibility of a neonatal hearing screening program in Albania, and an evaluation of the prevalence of risk factors in the NICU environment. One thousand five hundred and sixty-one (1561) infants from both the WB and NICU were screened with transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE). A detailed history of risk factors was collected in each case, thus it was possible to evaluate the main factors influencing the output of the screening program. It was concluded that the program had the capacity to identify infants with congenital hearing loss provided that an informative component is well-structured and delivered. Also, although the prevalence of risk factors appeared high, the reduction of 'case leakage' would allow the precise estimation of the incidence of hearing loss in the Albanian population.
