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Performance and characteristics of the Newborn Hearing Screening Program in Campania region (Italy) between 2013 and
Rita Malesci1, Valeria Del Vecchio2, Dario Bruzzese3
1Unit of Audiology, Department of Neurosciences, Reproductives and Odontostomatologic Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", via Pansini 5, 80131, Napoli, Italy. ritamalesci@libero.it.
Insights
Universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) in Campania achieved 91.06% coverage, identifying 413 cases of permanent hearing impairment (PHI). This demonstrates the program
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Audiology
Background:
- Universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) is vital for early detection and intervention of permanent hearing impairment (PHI).
- Campania region implemented UNHS in 2007, with this study updating its performance data.
- Previous assessments guided the program's evolution since its inception.
Purpose of the Study:
- To update the performance evaluation of the UNHS program in Campania region.
- To analyze program data from 2013 to 2019.
- To assess the program's effectiveness in early hearing detection and intervention (EHDI).
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal retrospective study analyzed data from 350,178 newborns in Campania.
- Data included coverage rates, referral rates, and lost-to-follow-up rates.
- Risk factor associations with PHI were determined.
Main Results:
- Coverage rate reached 91.06% (318,878 newborns).
- Permanent hearing impairment (PHI) was identified in 413 children (1.29 per 1000 live births).
- PHI incidence remained steady throughout the study period.
Conclusions:
- UNHS in Campania is feasible and effective, even with socioeconomic and organizational challenges.
- The program meets quality benchmarks for UNHS evaluation.
- Early diagnosis of hearing loss (HL) is achievable, preventing developmental consequences.
Purpose:
Universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) in the first month of life is crucial for facilitating both early hearing detection and intervention (EHDI) of significant permanent hearing impairment (PHI). In Campania region, UNHS has been introduced in 2003 by the Regional Council Resolution and started on January 2007. The aim of this paper is to update a previous article describing the performance of the program since its implementation in the period between 2013 and 2019.
Methods:
A longitudinal retrospective study was carried at the Regional Reference Center III on 350,178 babies born in the analysis period. The paper reports the main results of overall coverage, referral rate, lost-to-follow-up rate,yield for PHI and shall determine various risk factor associations with hearing impairment RESULTS: In Campania region, 318,878 newborns were enrolled at I level, with a coverage rate of 91.06%, 301,818 (86.18%) Well Infant Nurseries (WIN) and 17,060 (5.35%) Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) babies. PHI was identified in 413 children, 288 (69.73%) bilaterally and 125 (30.26%) unilaterally. The overall cumulative incidence rate of PHI was 1.29 per 1000 live-born infants (95% CI 1.17-1.42) with a quite steady tendency during the whole study period.
Conclusions:
This study confirms the feasibility and effectiveness of UNHS in Campania region also in a setting with major socioeconomic and health organization restrictions.The program meets quality benchmarks to evaluate the progress of UNHS. Nowadays, it is possible to achieve an early diagnosis of all types of HL avoiding the consequences of hearing deprivation.
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