A Priliminary Study Of Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Program

Objective: 1) To evaluate the feasibility of the universal new- born hearing screening program in China; 2) To search for the hear- ing screening model which suit our country ; 3)To acquire the basic data of prevalence of newborn's hearing loss. Methods: All infants, born in First Affiliated Hospital of Nan- jing Medical University between Feb 2000 and Jan 2001, received hearing screening test by transienly evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs) before discharge. Those failing in the hospital screening were asked to return 4 weeks after discharge for OAR rescreening. Those infants who failed in the outpatient rescreening received audi- tory brainstem response (ABR) test. A TEOAEs pass was defined as a minimum of a 3dB signal to noise ratio in three frequency bands (1.%2KHz 23KIIz. 3?Khz) with reproducibiity(r) equal to or exceed 0.60. The pass criteria chosen for ABR were presence of wave V in response to 35dBnIHL click stimuli. All infants who failed ABR test were referred for diagnostic evaluation audiologically. Follow-up for those babies who had the high risk factors of hearing loss needed. Results: Over a period of one year, 1213 newborns were screened at our hospital representing 95.74% of all live births. 1098(90.52%) newborns passed the first and 102 passed the second OAR screening combined with 4 missed resulted in 9 infants referred for ABR test. 2 infants who failed all screening tests were eventually identified to have unilateral sensorineural hearing loss. One baby with high risk factor passed the OAR screening, hearing loss was confirmed by behavioral observation audiometry during the 3 months?period of follow-up. Conclusions: It is feasible to do the universal newborn hearing screening program in China. The universal newborn hearing screen- ing program should conclude: Screening, Follow-up and Track, Di- agnostic, Intervention, Evaluation. The model that two stages screening with OAR and ABR combined is feasible in our country. OAR rescreemng one month after discharge can reduce the number of the infants received ABR test. The prevalence of newborn's hear- ing loss is same with the report in the range of published reports.