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Infant hearing screening 1984 to 1989: the Henry Ford Hospital experience
G P Jacobson1, M J Burtka, J A Wharton
1Division of Audiology, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI 48202.
Henry Ford Hospital Medical Journal
|January 1, 1990
Summary
The Infant Hearing Screening program identified 1.4% of infants at risk for hearing loss. Low birthweight infants were more likely to fail screening, highlighting the need for early detection in high-risk newborns.
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Neonatal care
- Public health
Background:
- The Infant Hearing Screening (IHS) program aimed to identify infants at risk for hearing loss.
- From 1984 to 1989, 1,300 infants were identified as
- at risk
- for hearing loss.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness and accuracy of the Infant Hearing Screening (IHS) program.
- To determine the prevalence of significant sensorineural hearing loss in at-risk infants.
- To assess risk factors and screening outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from the IHS program (1984-1989) at Henry Ford Hospital.
- Comparison of screening results with conventional audiometry and brainstem auditory-evoked potentials.
- Evaluation of factors such as birthweight and screening location.
Main Results:
- A prevalence of 1.4% for significant sensorineural hearing loss was found in the at-risk sample.
- Infants with low birthweight (less than 1,500 g) were three times more likely to fail IHS.
- Behavioral observation audiometry demonstrated 43% sensitivity and 92% specificity compared to brainstem auditory-evoked potentials.
Conclusions:
- The IHS program effectively identified infants with hearing loss, with a low false-negative rate.
- Low birthweight is a significant risk factor for hearing impairment in infants.
- Screening protocols and follow-up procedures are crucial for early detection and intervention.