Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 20, 2026
Neuro-rehabilitation Approach for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Published on: January 25, 2016
Factors Related to Not Following Up with Recommended Testing in the Diagnosis of Newborn Hearing Loss
Wendy Zeitlin1, Charles Auerbach2, Susan E Mason2
1Montclair State University, 1 Normal Avenue, Montclair, NJ, USA.
Insights
Newborn hearing loss is a public health issue. African American babies face higher risks of loss to follow-up for diagnosis, especially when parents lack access to healthcare professionals.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
- Audiology
Background:
- Congenital hearing loss affects newborns, necessitating early detection through universal newborn hearing screenings.
- Loss to follow-up (LTF) after initial screenings presents a significant barrier to timely diagnosis and treatment.
- Understanding factors influencing parental adherence to diagnostic evaluations is crucial for improving pediatric audiology outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify biopsychosocial factors associated with loss to follow-up (LTF) between newborn hearing screenings and diagnostic evaluations.
- To investigate the role of race, ethnicity, and access to healthcare professionals in LTF.
- To inform interventions aimed at reducing LTF in the diagnostic phase of newborn hearing care.
Main Methods:
- A prospective quantitative longitudinal study design.
- Tracking 203 families with newborns referred for diagnostic testing post-hospital discharge.
- Utilizing binary logistic regression to analyze factors predicting LTF.
Main Results:
- Psychosocial factors, including race, ethnicity, and access to healthcare professionals, were associated with LTF.
- African American infants were identified as being at the highest risk for LTF.
- Perceived access to healthcare professionals mitigated the impact of race and ethnicity on LTF.
Conclusions:
- Addressing disparities in access to healthcare professionals is vital for reducing LTF in newborn hearing diagnostics.
- Targeted interventions are needed to support families, particularly minority groups, in completing recommended diagnostic evaluations.
- Improving follow-up care adherence can enhance early intervention for congenital hearing loss.
Abstract:
Children's hearing is a public health concern, and universal newborn hearing screenings are the first step in detecting and treating congenital hearing loss. Despite the high rate of participation in such programs, loss to follow-up (LTF) with additional recommended diagnosis and treatment has been a persistent problem. The current research seeks to expand the knowledge base at the point of diagnosis, where there is a large drop-off in parents following through with recommended care. This research was organized around the following question: What biopsychosocial factors are associated with LTF between screenings and diagnostic evaluations? A prospective quantitative longitudinal study tracked 203 families whose newborns were referred for additional testing at discharge from the hospital after birth. Binary logistic regression was used to determine what constellation of factors best predicted LTF. Psychosocial factors related to being lost to follow-up at diagnosis included race and ethnicity and access to health care professionals, with African American babies being most at risk for LTF; however, the impact of race and ethnicity declined when parents believed they had more health care professionals with whom to consult.
More Related Videos
14:05Behavioral Assessment of Hearing in 2 to 4 Year-old Children: A Two-interval, Observer-based Procedure Using Conditioned Play-based Responses
Published on: January 23, 2017
06:04Systematic Hearing Performance Evaluation Process for Adolescents with Cochlear Implantation at Early Ages
Published on: March 24, 2023
