Universal Neonatal Hearing Screening

Abstract

After a brief review of the history of newborn hearing screening including the Downs behavioral testing procedure, the Crib-o-gram and similar devices, and the use of auropalpebral reflex and otoacoustic emissions, there is a discussion of key issues that need to be resolved before universal hearing screening is introduced. Included are questions regarding the target population(s) of screening programs, well baby versus NICU screening, dealing with false-positives and the effects on parent-child relationships, and finally, the availability of resources for screening and follow-up. The results of a recent study in the United Kingdom that assessed the current state of audiology services and found there is a difference between existing standards and what is actually being done in practice, are presented and considered in terms of current trends in the United States to move ahead with universal screening without a solid database of information regarding the preparedness of clinical centers to deal with the need for services that will result from the initiation of universal programs. Caution is urged.

Comparison of two-step transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE) and automated auditory brainstem response (AABR) for universal newborn hearing screening programs

“…The percent of infants referred for diagnosis also drops considerably with AABR; this reduces expense, anxiety for families [20][21][22]25,30,37,40,42,43] and traveling to the diagnosis center, sometimes quite far from the families' homes. With TEOAE, infants who fail the second screening (2%) and those who pass but have risk factors for hearing loss (3.2%) are referred for diagnosis.…”

“…Clinical OEA application made it possible to universalize newborn hearing screening because it provided a simple, quick, effective and non-invasive method for evaluating cochlear function [29][30][31]. However, the later ABR and TEOAE automation, even in the same equipment, made it easier to evaluate different protocols, where the combination of one or the other test in one or two stages achieved the greatest effectiveness [6].…”

Zekai Tahir Burak Women’s Health Education and Research Hospital newborn hearing screening results and assessment of the patients

“…Social, emotional, cognitive and language development of infants is provided by early diagnosis of hearing deficit (4)(5)(6). Hearing deficit is reported with a rate of 1-6 in 1000 live births in healthy newborns, while it reaches up to 10-30 in 1000 live births in newborns with risk factors (1,7,8).…”

Potencial evocado auditivo de estado estável em audiologia pediátrica

“…However, the diagnostic process can only be considered complete when one specifically identifies the type, degree and configuration of this population's hearing loss 1,2,3 . The Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potential (BAEP) with the click and tone burst stimuli, otoacoustic emissions, Immittance values and Visual Reinforcement Audiometry (VRA) and, today, the most promising method for hearing assessment: auditory steady state brainstem audiometry (ASSBA), are all part of the set of tests (electrophysiological, electroacoustic and behavioral) to which the child is submitted for audiological investigation.…”