Newborn hearing screening: a regional example for national care

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Pediatrics
• Public Health

Background:

• Congenital Permanent Childhood Hearing Impairment (PCHI) negatively impacts language, cognition, and social integration.
• Early detection through Universal Newborn Hearing Screening (UNHS) is crucial for mitigating these effects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the experience and results of a UNHS program implemented in the West of Ireland since 2000.
• To evaluate the accuracy, feasibility, and effectiveness of a two-stage UNHS protocol.

Main Methods:

• A two-stage screening protocol was used for neonates born between October 2000 and November 2007.
• Stage 1: Transient Evoked Oto-Acoustic Emissions (TEOAEs) for all neonates.
• Stage 2: Automated Auditory Brainstem Response (AABR) for non-pass TEOAE and audiological risk neonates.

Main Results:

• Screening coverage reached 98% (25,742/26,281 neonates).
• The prevalence of PCHI was 1.21 per 1000 live births (31 cases identified).
• The two-stage protocol demonstrated high accuracy and feasibility.

Conclusions:

• A hospital-based, two-stage UNHS protocol utilizing TEOAEs and AABR is accurate, feasible, and effective for identifying PCHI.
• This screening program facilitates early detection and intervention for hearing impairment in newborns.