Initial results from the newborn hearing screening programme in Ireland

Abstract

Over 11,738 babies have been screened for permanent childhood hearing impairment (PCHI) during the first 12 months. The percentage of eligible babies offered hearing screening was 99.2 %. Only 0.2 % (n = 25) of those offered screening declined. 493 (4 %) were referred for immediate diagnostic audiological assessment. The average time between screen and diagnostic audiology appointment was 2 weeks. 15 (1.3/1,000) babies have been identified with a PCHI over the 12-month period. 946 (4 %) babies screened were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for >48 h. The prevalance of PCHI is 7.3/1,000 in the NICU population compared to 0.6/1000 in the well baby population. 214 (1.8 % of total babies screened) had a clear response in the screening programmes, but were deemed to be at risk of an acquired childhood hearing impairment. These babies will be reassessed with a diagnostic audiology appointment at 8-9 months of age. To date, there is one case of acquired hearing impairment through this targeted follow-up screen. Of the 15 cases of PCHI identified, 8 (53 %) of these had one or more risk factors for hearing loss and 7 (37 %) were admitted to the NICU for >48 h. Four babies were referred for assessment at the National Cochlear Implant Centre.

Prevalence of permanent childhood hearing loss detected at the universal newborn hearing screen: Systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Most studies did not report follow-up after completion of UNHS and diagnostic testing ( n = 21). Of the 11 studies with any follow-up, nine attempted to follow-up the entire study population, one only reported targeted surveillance results for screen negative children with risk factors (O’Connor) [30] and one study only followed up true positive children (Antoni) [23]. Thus there were 10 studies with follow-up of screen negative children.…”

“…In three studies [30, 40, 59], information was provided on UNHS-detected PCHL prevalence by NICU admission status. Pooled PCHL prevalence was 5.9 (95% CI: 3.8, 8.4) per 1000 screened children admitted to NICU, compared with 0.8 (95% CI: 0.4, 1.4) per 1000 not admitted: a PCHL prevalence rate ratio of 6.9 (95% CI: 3.8, 12.5) (Fig 5).…”

Conductive Hearing Loss Within Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Programs: A Systematic Review

“…Historically, support for this target condition was established through evidence linking the provision of early intervention for these children with improved speech and language outcomes [1]. As this criterion is uniform across all UNHS programs, significant research has been dedicated to finding the optimal assessment pathways for these children [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]. However, through the same hearing screening process, many infants and children have also been identified with a hearing loss that does not fall into the target category.…”

“…2) Two sub-classifications of CHL were infrequently reported within UNHS programs (3). The audiological management of CHL within UNHS involved many and varied audiological assessments, typical in the assessment of PCHL.…”

Organisation of newborn hearing screening programmes in the European Union: widely implemented, differently performed

“…the kind of tests, number of screening steps before diagnostic referral, newborns' age when tests are performed, the professionals that administer the tests, screening location, or the targeted population). [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22] This study provides an overview of the organisational designs of national and regional newborn hearing screening programmes in the 28 European Union (EU) countries and highlights their similarities and differences in level of policy-decision, financing, general designs, and organisational features. The ultimate goal is to initiate a network of shared practices in order to improve knowledge and practices.…”