[Universal newborn hearing screening in Cantabria (Spain): results of the first two years]

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

Context

Permanent childhood hearing loss (PCHL) can affect speech, language, and wider outcomes. Adverse effects are mitigated through universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) and early intervention.

Objective

We undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate prevalence of UNHS-detected PCHL (bilateral loss ≥26 dB HL) and its variation by admission to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). A secondary objective was to report UNHS programme performance (PROSPERO: CRD42016051267).

Data sources

Multiple electronic databases were interrogated in January 2017, with further reports identified from article citations and unpublished literature (November 2017).

Study selection

UNHS reports from very highly-developed (VHD) countries with relevant prevalence and performance data; no language or date restrictions.

Data extraction

Three reviewers independently extracted data and assessed quality.

Results

We identified 41 eligible reports from 32 study populations (1799863 screened infants) in 6195 non-duplicate references. Pooled UNHS-detected PCHL prevalence was 1.1 per 1000 screened children (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.9, 1.3; I² = 89.2%). This was 6.9 times (95% CI: 3.8, 12.5) higher among those admitted to NICU. Smaller studies were significantly associated with higher prevalences (Egger’s test: p = 0.02). Sensitivity and specificity ranged from 89–100% and 92–100% respectively, positive predictive values from 2–84%, with all negative predictive values 100%.

Limitations

Results are generalisable to VHD countries only. Estimates and inferences were limited by available data.

Conclusions

In VHD countries, 1 per 1000 screened newborns require referral to clinical services for PCHL. Prevalence is higher in those admitted to NICU. Improved reporting would support further examination of screen performance and child demographics.

Newborn hearing screening: analysis and outcomes after 100,000 births in Upper-Normandy French region

OBJECTIVES

Neonatal hearing impairment is a common disorder with a prevalence of 1 to 2‰ worldwide, with significant consequences on overall development when rehabilitated too late. New-born hearing screening has been implemented in the 1990s in most European countries and the USA. The Upper-Normandy region of France has been conducting a pilot program since 1999. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate and critically analyse it.

METHODS

The Upper-Normandy universal new-born hearing screening program is performed in two steps. Between 1999 and 2004, first, we administered a Transient Evoked Oto Acoustic Emission (TEOAE) test was administered a few days after birth for healthy newborns without risk factors. For newborns admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) or presenting risk factors, was administered an automated auditory brainstem response (AABR) test prior to discharge. Second, newborns who failed the initial hearing screening were retested as outpatients using TEOAE. Since 2004, infants who failed the initial screen were tested with AABR 3 to 4 weeks later as outpatients, providing an opportunity to compare the two protocols.

RESULTS

Overall screening coverage in the Upper-Normandy region is 99.8%. First step coverage is 99.58% in well-infant nurseries and 97.09% in the NICU. The test-retest procedure during the first step and the use of AABR for the second resulted in higher follow-up rates and lower false positive rates.

CONCLUSIONS

The Upper-Normandy region universal newborn hearing screening program facilitated diagnosis and rehabilitation of infants before age of 9 months, most notably when severe to profound hearing impairment was found.

Prevalence of auditory changes in newborns in a teaching hospital

Introduction: The precocious diagnosis and the intervention in the deafness are of basic importance in the infantile development. The loss auditory and more prevalent than other joined riots to the birth.

Objective: Esteem the prevalence of auditory alterations in just-born in a hospital school.

Method: Prospective transversal study that evaluated 226 just-been born, been born in a public hospital, between May of 2008 the May of 2009.

Results: Of the 226 screened, 46 (20.4%) had presented absence of emissions, having been directed for the second emission. Of the 26 (56.5%) children who had appeared in the retest, 8 (30.8%) had remained with absence and had been directed to the Otolaryngologist. Five (55.5%) had appeared and had been examined by the doctor. Of these, 3 (75.0%) had presented normal otoscopy, being directed for evaluation of the Evoked Potential Auditory of Brainstem (PEATE). Of the total of studied children, 198 (87.6%) had had presence of emissions in one of the tests and, 2 (0.9%) with deafness diagnosis.

Conclusion: The prevalence of auditory alterations in the studied population was of 0,9%. The study it offers given excellent epidemiologists and it presents the first report on the subject, supplying resulted preliminary future implantation and development of a program of neonatal auditory selection.

Universal newborn hearing screening: a 27-month experience in the French region of Champagne-Ardenne

OBJECTIVES

This article reports the creation of a Universal Newborn Hearing Screening (UNHS) program in a French region, Champagne-Ardenne, and the results of its first 27 months.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We introduced a UNHS program in all the Champagne-Ardenne maternities in order to screen all newborns in the region. We used a two-step strategy. The first test consists of automated transiently evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE) and is performed before discharge by a nurse or a midwife. If TEOAE are absent in both ears (positive screening test), the baby is referred to the second test, which could be either TEOAE or automated auditory brainstem response (aABR) 15 days after discharge, by a physician in an outpatient clinic. If the retest is positive in both ears, the baby is referred to diagnostic tests in a reference centre. This procedure also applies to newborns in neonatal intensive care units but, in those cases, the first test procedure is aABR because of the higher incidence of auditory neuropathies in those units. UNHS data are recorded with the other neonatal screening tests in the Regional Neonatal Screening Center, which facilitates the follow-up of newborns.

RESULTS

A total of 33 873 newborns were screened, which represents a coverage rate of 92.42%. In those babies, 33 431 had a negative first test and 429 were retested. There were 34 positive retests. Among those 34 children, 27 were actually deaf (0.08%). The median age at diagnosis was shortened from 17 months to 10 weeks.

CONCLUSION

Those 27-month results demonstrate the validity of our UNHS program, which relies on the cooperation with maternities, an easy protocol and a strong follow-up procedure.

Universal newborn hearing screening in Mexico: results of the first 2 years

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study is to present the results of the first 2 years of universal newborn hearing screening and the prevalence of congenital hearing loss in Monterrey, Mexico.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We performed a descriptive study of the first 2 years after starting of the newborn screening program in a private hospital in Mexico. The program is organized into levels. We using for initial evaluation an automated auditory brainstem response (AABR). If the test was positive, the audiologist conducted and auditory brainstem response (ABR) test and other specialized testing was performed. Babies with hearing impairment were referred for early intervention.

RESULTS

A total of 3066 newborns were screened (99.9%). The prevalence of sensorineural and bilateral hearing loss was of 0.65/1000 newborns. Seventy-three neonates (2.37%) had a risk factor for hearing impairment. A total of 0.22% (n=7) of those studied were referred for ABR testing. Of the patients referred to the audiologist, 100% were seen. The positive predictive value for sensorineural hearing loss was 71.4% (95% CI 30.2-94.8) and the false positive rate was 0.065%. Of the subjects screened, 100% were diagnosed before the age of 3 months, but all babies began treatment after the age of 6 months. No cochlear implants were indicated.

CONCLUSION

This is the first report of a universal hearing screening program in Mexico. Even though this study had a reduced sample, the findings of hearing loss rate in this study are similar to the results found in other countries.