Related Experiment Videos
[Results of a deafness screening program for infants: a pilot project]
1Service de santé publique, Centre hospitalier de Beauceville, QC.
Canadian Journal of Public Health = Revue Canadienne De Sante Publique
|September 1, 1996
Summary
A Quebec infant hearing loss screening program identified 8.4% of newborns with risk factors. Early audiological exams diagnosed one case of deafness, highlighting the importance of infant hearing screening.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Audiology
- Public Health
Context:
- Implemented in a Quebec public health district, this study evaluated an infant hearing loss screening program.
- The program followed recommendations from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).
- Screening occurred between April 1990 and March 1992, covering 3,944 births.
Purpose:
- To describe the implementation and outcomes of a two-stage infant hearing loss screening program.
- To identify the prevalence of hearing impairment risk factors in newborns.
- To assess the effectiveness of audiological examinations at six months for at-risk infants.
Summary:
- The first stage identified infants with risk factors for deafness (8.4% of 3,944 births).
- Common risk factors included family history, hyperbilirubinemia, and neonatal unit admission.
- The second stage involved audiological examinations for 54.2% of at-risk infants, diagnosing one case of deafness.
Impact:
- Demonstrates the feasibility of a systematic approach to identifying infants at risk for hearing loss.
- Provides data on the prevalence of specific risk factors in the studied population.
- Confirms the necessity of follow-up audiological assessments for early detection and intervention of infant hearing impairment.