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Perspectives on a state enacted hearing screening assessment program in the newborn population
M J Abrams1, M L Pensak, K Buhrer
1Department of Otolaryngology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, OH 45267-0528, USA.
The American Journal of Otology
|May 1, 1997
Summary
Ohio's Infant Hearing Screening and Assessment Program (IHSAP) faces challenges due to poor follow-up and limited resources, impacting its effectiveness in identifying hearing loss in newborns.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Audiology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Ohio enacted a universal infant hearing screening law in 1988.
- The Infant Hearing Screening and Assessment Program (IHSAP) uses a high-risk questionnaire and auditory assessment.
- Implementing this public health program presented significant challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the early performance of Ohio's statewide infant hearing screening program.
- To assess the impact of the medical and socioeconomic climate on program implementation.
- To identify challenges in the early stages of the IHSAP.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of program performance data from 160,000 live births annually.
- Utilized hospital surveys to gather information.
- Examined early implementation data to identify performance metrics.
Main Results:
- Questionnaires identified twice the projected number of newborns needing further assessment.
- High completion and compliance rates for questionnaires were observed.
- The assessment component suffered from poor compliance and resource limitations, hindering sensitivity and specificity evaluation.
Conclusions:
- IHSAP performance is hindered by inadequate assessment follow-up and insufficient resources for equipment and habilitative services.
- Legislative guidelines and medicoeconomic factors contribute to these performance issues.
- Addressing resource limitations and improving follow-up are crucial for IHSAP effectiveness.