Multicenter study of neonatal hearing screening in Dongguang region

Abstract:

Objective This study performed multicenter neonatal hearing screening in the Dongguang region so as to explore the model of neonatal hearing screening suitable for this region.Methods The study population consisted of 17 360 infants from 6 hospitals of Dongguang region. Universal hearing screenings by distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) techniques were done within 24- 48 hrs after birth. Infants who failed the initial screening test underwent second screening by DPOAE one month later. Acoustic brain-stem response (ABR) and 40 Hz auditory event related potential (40Hz-AERP)techniques were used to examine the hearing of those who failed the second hearing screening test at age of 3 months.Results Of the 17 360 infants, 15 624(89.1%)passed the initial screening. A total of 1 736 cases needed a second screening test. One thousand five hundred and ninety seven infants underwent the second test. Among the 1 597 cases, 1 491(93.4%) passed the second screening. Ultimately 39 cases were diagnosed with congenital hearing loss, with an incidence of hearing loss of 2.25‰.Conclusions DPOAE can be used as a rapid and effective method for initial hearing screening in infants. The two-stage hearing screening test can identify hearing loss early.