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[Universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS): is it possible to successfully implement it nationwide?]
1Bayerisches Landesamt für Gesundheit und Lebensmittelsicherheit , Oberschleißheim. inken.brockow@lgl.bayern.de
Gesundheitswesen (Bundesverband Der Arzte Des Offentlichen Gesundheitsdienstes (Germany))
|September 3, 2011
Summary
Universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) in Bavaria successfully implemented, achieving over 96% coverage. A robust tracking system is crucial for early diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss in infants.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Audiology
- Pediatrics
Context:
- Germany mandated universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) in 2009.
- UNHS is part of national pediatric preventive care guidelines.
- This study evaluates the initial implementation and quality of UNHS in Bavaria.
Purpose:
- To assess the successful implementation of UNHS in Bavaria two years post-introduction.
- To evaluate if quality criteria outlined in national guidelines were met.
- To identify areas for improvement in the UNHS process.
Summary:
- Over 96% of newborns in Bavaria were screened.
- The REFER rate (failed tests) was 4.5% in 2010.
- Only 18% of follow-up diagnostics were performed by pediatric audiologists, with 38.5% requiring screening center intervention.
Impact:
- Median age for bilateral hearing loss diagnosis was 5.5 months in 2009.
- Median age for initiating therapy was 6.2 months.
- A tracking system for infants with failed screenings is essential for timely diagnosis and intervention.
