Unit:
Κατεύθυνση Ακοολογία–ΝευροωτολογίαLibrary of the School of Health Sciences
Author:
Angeletos Dimitrios
Supervisors info:
Θωμάς Νικολόπουλος, Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ, Επιβλέπων
Παύλος Μαραγκουδάκης, Αναπληρωτής Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Αλέξανδρος Δελίδης, Επίκουρος Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Original Title:
Καθολικός Νεογνικός Έλεγχος Ακοής: Κέρδη και Προβλήματα
Translated title:
Universal Newborn Hearing Screening: Benefits and Problems
Summary:
Objective: Universal Newborn Hearing Screening, during the last 2 decades that it’s been used, has completely changed the landscape of congenital hearing loss.Otoacoustic emissions and automated Auditory Brainstem Responses, have given the opportunity of detecting congenital hearing loss very early in child’s life, due to their ability of quick performing without requiring the child’s co-operation.The aim of the present review is to show the benefits and limitations of the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening programs. Methods: The Pubmed database and the Google search engine were used.Finaly 8 review articles, 18 other articles (mainly researches), 2 position statements, 3 books and 1 transcripted interview were reviewed. Results: A great improvement has been found in terms of language skills, due to the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening.The Language Quantities of children that have an intervention before the age of 6 months, seem to be normal (˃80).Apart from that, 36% of the expenses for special education programs have been saved.Otoacoustic emission can not detect cases of mild hearing loss with a threshold less or equal to 30dB and Auditory Brainstem Responses can not detect the hearing loss when the threshold is less than 35dB.This leads to a misdiagnosis of 23% of mild hearing loss cases.There is a mean of 20-22% of loss to follow-up cases between the neonates that are refered to second stage detection. Discussion: Language skills of hearing impaired children have been improved due to the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening programs.In addition to that there has been an important reduction in the expenses for special education.On the other hand there are some problems and side-effects from the use of the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening programs, as for example the fact that some cases of mild hearing loss are misdiagnosed.The same can happen with some cases of acoustic neuropathy spectrum disorders, but fortunately this doesn’t happen very often because neonates with predicting factors are generally tested with Auditory Brainstem Responses.In addition to the above, Universal Newborn Hearing Screening can lead to a late diagnosis in cases of late-onset hearing loss.Another problem is that a lot of screened neonates are referred to follow-up, which is a serious problem because, apart from adding overwork to the audiology outpatient clinics, it also affects the parents psychologically.Last but very important problem are the numerous loss to follow-up cases. Conclusions: Universal Newborn Hearing Screening is very important for early detection and intervention of congenital hearing loss and it remains priceless even though there are some limitations and side-effects.
Main subject category:
Health Sciences
Keywords:
Universal Newborn Hearing Screening, Congenital hearing loss, Otoacoustic emissions, Auditory brainstem responses
