ABSTRACT
Background@#Universal newborn hearing screening is mandated in the Philippines through the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening and Intervention Act of 2009 (RA 9709). Newborn hearing screening (NBHS) centers are required to perform screening tests, compile and submit data on screened newborns, and advise parents on the subsequent steps after NBHS.@*Objective@#The study aimed to conduct a survey of the implementation of the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening and Intervention Program (UNHSIP) in the different regions of the country; and assess the information technology (IT) capabilities of hearing centers.@*Methods@#Fifty-one NBHS centers across twelve regions were surveyed through on-site inspections in 2016. Data was gathered on the centers’ testing capability, staffing, access to specialists, use of local protocols, connectivity, and IT capabilities. @*Results@#All surveyed centers followed the recommended protocols of the Manual of Operations of the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening and Intervention Act of 2009 (RA 9709). Among the 12 regions visited, only five (41.67%) had Category C centers with confirmatory testing and early amplification services as recommended. Majority of facilities (96.1%) were staffed by trained and certified personnel. A small percentage had access to subspecialists such as clinical audiologists (39.2%) and speech-language pathologists (23.5%). All facilities had computer access, but only 58.8% had internet access. Majority (94.1%) of the centers visited were not using the recommended data submission methods, specifically the use of registry cards and the online registry. Only 27.5% of centers had data on newborns who underwent confirmatory testing or early intervention. @*Conclusion@#Facilities were found to be compliant to NBHS screening protocols and majority complied with certification requirements for staff; but were found to be non-compliant with use of registry cards or the online registry. Majority of centers were able to contact the parents of neonates who did not pass newborn screening, but had no system to track outcomes. Lack of confirmatory and early intervention services in identified areas emphasize the need for development of regional centers. It is recommended that measures to improve the utilization of the online registry are taken.
Subject(s)
Neonatal ScreeningABSTRACT
Objective@#The universal newborn hearing screening program has been implemented in the Philippines for the past ten years. However, screening rates in the country are still low. The current study aimed to describe the universal newborn hearing screening program (UNHSP) delivery system in Rizal, Philippines, and Northern California. @*Methods@#The study utilized a case study research design using data triangulation of FGD, KII, and document review to characterize and compare the implementation of the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Program in Rizal Province and Northern California. @*Results@#Several differences were found in the protocols for newborn hearing screening in Rizal, Philippines, and Northern California, including centralization of the program, availability of surveillance data, screening protocols, and tracking system. @*Conclusion@#There is an immense need to disseminate universal newborn hearing screening among healthcare practitioners and create a system to monitor and evaluate real-time data.
Subject(s)
Infant, NewbornABSTRACT
Objective@#The study describes the current knowledge, attitudes, and practices of healthcare practitioners in Rizal province regarding the implementation of the universal newborn hearing screening program (UNHSP).@*Materials and Methods@#A descriptive phenomenologic research design through focus group discussions with pediatric and OBGYN consultants in a government hospital, nurses from private primary and secondary hospitals, midwives from private birthing homes, and rural health workers@*Results@#Attitudes. All participants recognized that they had important roles in implementing the program except the OBGYN consultants as they felt that information about the UNHSP should be provided by pediatricians. Practices. The lack of a screening device, trained personnel, and a referral network were the most common barriers in implementing the program. Knowledge. Most participants lacked specific knowledge about hearing loss and its implications in the UNHSP.@*Conclusion@#Most participants were able to determine the advantages and disadvantages of implementing the UNHSP. However, less than half of the participants admitted to have an established protocol to give access to newborn hearing screening services. Establishment of an information dissemination protocol and materials may be beneficial in the absence of funding for screening devices.
Subject(s)
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Health FacilitiesABSTRACT
A two-stage centralized newborn screening program was initiated in Cochin in January 2003. Infants are screened first with otoacoustic emission (OAE). Infants who fail OAE on two occasions are screened with auditory brainstem response (ABR). All Neonatal intensive care unit babies undergo ABR. This successful model subsequently got expanded to the whole district of Ernakulam, and some hospitals in Kottayam and Thrissur districts. Over the past 11 years, 1,01,688 babies were screened. Permanent hearing loss was confirmed in 162 infants (1.6 per 1000). This practical model of centralized newborn hearing screening may be replicated in other districts of our country or in other developing countries.
ABSTRACT
Significant hearing loss is one of the most common major abnormalities present at birth. If undetected, it will impede speech, language and cognitive development. Significant bilateral hearing loss is present in 1 to 3 per 1000 new born infants in the well-baby nursery population and in 2 to 4 per 100 infants in the intensive care unit population. It is an established fact that if hearing loss is present it should be detected and remediated before the baby is 6 months old. Neither universal screening nor a high risk screening, exists in majority of the hospitals in our country. In such a situation, a centralized facility catering to all hospitals in the city is a practical option. A two-stage screening protocol is projected, in which infants are screened first with otoacoustic emissions (OAE). Infants who fail the OAE are screened with auditory brainstem response (ABR). This two tier screening program (the second tier being ABR, which is more expensive) is required only for a selected few, making the program more practical and viable. It is the practicability of this program that makes it relevant for replication in other cities of the country, making it a model screening program for any developing country.
ABSTRACT
Introdução: Entre os distúrbios já rastreados ao nascimento, a perda auditiva (PA) é mais prevalente. Esforços têm sido feitos para identificação e tratamento precoces por meio de programas de triagem auditiva neonatal (TAN). A literatura sobre o tema demonstra a efetividade, taxas de exames falsos positivos e custos dos programas. O objetivodeste trabalho é apresentar os aspectos atuais da triagem auditivano país através da revisão de artigos sobre o tema. Conclusão: Os programas de triagem auditiva neonatal universal, mesmo com taxas de sucesso, apresentam algumas dificuldades a serem resolvidas.
Introduction: Hearing loss is more prevalent than other birth defects for which there is mandated screening. Many efforts have been made towards early identification and intervention by universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) programs. The objective of this paper is to present current aspects of UNHS in Brazil by a review of articles about the subject. Conclusion: Reports from screening programs demonstratethe effectiveness, false-positive rates, and program costs. Despite the success rates of the UNHS, there are a few difficulties yet to be resolved.