These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: [Screening for congenital hearing loss--a pilot project].
    Author: Kaldestad RH, Wingaard L, Hansen TW.
    Journal: Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen; 2002 Sep 20; 122(22):2190-3. PubMed ID: 12426895.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND: Until recently in Norway, congenital hearing loss has on average been diagnosed at 2.8 years of age. Delayed diagnosis is associated with loss of valuable opportunities for auditory habilitation and speech development. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Since September 1999 we have carried out universal screening for congenital hearing loss in both healthy and sick newborns. During the first screening period, all newborns were screened with automated auditory brainstem response audiometry. In the second period all healthy infants were screened primarily with otoacoustic emission audiometry, with automated auditory brainstem response audiometry as a second stage screening for those who failed the otoacoustic emission test. 3,996 infants were screened from start-up until December 2001. RESULTS: Hearing loss was confirmed in 25 patients (11 unilateral and 14 bilateral). A further two patients were referred but found to have normal hearing. The incidence of congenital hearing loss was 0.16% in presumed healthy infants and 2.2% in infants admitted to the intensive care nursery. INTERPRETATION: Screening for congenital hearing loss can be carried out with a very low rate of referrals and a low rate of false positive tests, particularly if there is access to otoacoustic emission as well as automated auditory brainstem response testing. In our opinion, Norway now needs to legislate for universal screening for congenital hearing loss in the neonatal period. Our departments of audiology should be given the opportunity and resources to upgrade their skills in relation to this new group of patients.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]