Effectiveness of a newborn hearing screening program and a hearing screening program conducted at the regular-health examination for 3-year-old children

• Published in: AUDIOLOGY JAPAN Vol. 50; no. 2; pp. 107 - 112
• Main Authors: Hasegawa, Kensaku, Hata, Fumiko, Kitano, Hiroya, Tamagawa, Tomoya
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan Audiological Society 2007
• ISSN: 0303-8106; 1883-7301; 1883-7301
• DOI: 10.4295/audiology.50.107

In 2005, a newborn hearing screening program (NHSP) was carried out for about 70% of all newborn babies in Tottori prefecture, while a hearing screening program conducted at the regular-health examination for 3-year-old children (HS for 3-year-olds) has been carried out for over 90% of all 3-year-old children. We analyzed the data from 31 infants who failed the NHSP and were referred to Tottori University Hospital to undergo diagnostic testing from April 2002 to March 2005. We also analyzed the data from 12 children who failed HS for 3-year-olds from April 2005 to March 2006. Regarding NHSP, 14 out of 31 (45.2%) infants had normal hearing (<40dB hearing level), while 10 (32.3%) were confirmed to have a hearing loss. Automated auditory brainstem response yielded a lower false positive rate (37.5%) than the automated otoacoustic emissions (50%). Regarding HS for 3-year-olds, 6 out of 12 (50%) children had normal hearing, while 6 (50%) were confirmed to have a hearing loss. In addition, 6 had otitis media with effusion (OME). The establishment of comprehensive hearing screening program for both NHSP and HS for 3-year-olds is considered to be needed in order to identify and treat child hearing impairment in an effective manner.