Benefits and costs of universal hearing screening programme

Hearing loss affects 1-3 out of 1000 newborns. A programme of universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) was implemented in our ENT department in February 2000. In 2001, the programme was extended to all the hospitals of the canton Geneva. The programme is based on the recording of transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE) from all newborns. In addition, automated auditory brainstem responses (aABR) are recorded in high-risk neonates. In the report, we compare the mean age at which rehabilitation of hearing was undertaken during a 5-year period before and after the screening programme was instituted. We also identify some causes of delayed diagnosis and intervention and the pitfalls of universal hearing screening. The price of the UNHS programme is estimated at 26 Swiss francs (17 Euros; 21 US dollars) per infant screened, including the material required, the personal involved to run the programme, and the follow-up.