[Neonatal hearing screening program and school education for deaf children in Switzerland]

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Public Health
• Audiology

Background:

• A national newborn hearing screening program was established in Switzerland in the early 2000s.
• The adoption of this screening by maternity wards has significantly increased over time.
• A national database collects screening results, providing insights into screening quality and deafness incidence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a national newborn hearing screening program in Switzerland.
• To assess the trends in screening participation and the incidence of deafness.
• To understand the effectiveness of early diagnosis and modern technologies in child rehabilitation.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of data from a national hearing screening database.
• Tracking the number of participating maternity wards over time.
• Reviewing trends in the diagnosis and rehabilitation of deafness.

Main Results:

• Increased participation in newborn hearing screening across Swiss maternities since the early 2000s.
• Improved early diagnosis and rehabilitation of hearing loss in infants.
• Facilitation of mainstream integration for nearly all deaf children due to early intervention and technology.

Conclusions:

• The national newborn hearing screening program in Switzerland has successfully enhanced early detection and intervention for deafness.
• Combined early diagnosis and advanced technologies significantly improve outcomes, enabling mainstream integration for deaf children.
• The national database serves as a valuable tool for monitoring screening effectiveness and public health surveillance of hearing impairment.