Neonatal Hearing Screening

ABSTRACT

Hearing screening was first done over 100 years ago using a whispered voice test. Sweep testing with pure tone audiometer was other method employed in the fifties. Search for neonatal hearing screening methodologies was prompted by the fact that early intervention in cases of hearing impairment will reduce later disability. The concept of targeted screening of "at risk" babies became popular as it was more cost-efficient. The proponent of universal neonatal screening argue that the high risk register misses 50% of loss. Ironically 90% of the infants with hearing impairment are born to parent with normal hearing and his fact goes in favours of universal screening. Screening should be done by trained personnel. Hearing loss is expressed in the early years and therefore the optimal age for screening is first 3 years. School age screening may be used to detect progressive hearing impairment only. Automatic BSER, traditional BSER and Oto-acoustic emission have emerged as reliable screening methods. Screening tests for hearing should have a sensitively and specificity of 90%. Follow-up is vital to pick-up progressive hearing loss. Availability of ancillary facilities like audiological services speech language pathologist, ENT specialist, paediatrician and teachers for the deaf are equally important Benefits of screening include prevention, maintenance of adequate audition and habilitation