[Program of hearing loss early detection in newborn infants in Cantabria. Results of the first year of activities]. / Programa de detección precoz de la hipoacusia en neonatos en Cantabria. Resultados del primer año de funcionamiento.

AIMS: To report the findings in the first year of follow-up of the Cantabrian Program to screen newborn babies for congenital permanent hearing loss. METHODS: The study population consisted of infants born during a year period in Cantabria (Spain). Universal hearing screening by transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE) in 2 stage protocol was performed. Infants with failure scores in these 2 stages and those with risk factors for hearing loss were referred for diagnostic evaluation with auditory brainstem response. Hearing aids were recommended for those infants who had bilateral hearing loss and referrals to infant speech and language rehabilitation. RESULTS: Out of the 4117 eligible babies, 3987 were studied. One hundred and ten (2.6) had risk factors for hearing loss, 3.5% were referred for audiological assessment and 1.2/1000 were diagnosed as having a permanent hearing loss. The false-positive rate was 0.72% after the two-stage screening procedure was performed. Positive predictive value for permanent hearing loss was 10%. CONCLUSIONS: During the first year working with the Cantabrian Screening Program for congenital permanent hearing loss in newborn babies, the most part of the proposed aims have been achieved.

Programa de detección precoz de la hipoacusia en neonatos en Cantabria. Resultados del primer año de funcionamiento / Early hearing loss detection program for newborn babies in Cantabria. First year results

Objetivos: Evaluar los hallazgos obtenidos en el primer año de funcionamiento del Programa Cántabro para la Detección Precoz de la Hipoacusia Neonatal. Métodos: El ámbito de estudio incluyó a todos los recién nacidos en la Comunidad Autónoma de Cantabria (España) entre el 1 de abril de 2001 y 31 de marzo de 2002. El programa se dividió en 4 fases; las 3 primeras son las que se incluyen en este estudio: fase de screening con otoemisiones acústicas automatizadas (OAE), fase de diagnóstico con potenciales evocados auditivos (neonatos con OAE negativas y/o factores de riesgo de hipoacusia) y fase de tratamiento (adaptación de prótesis auditivas y rehabilitación logopédica). Resultados: Durante el periodo de estudio nacieron 4.117 niños, de los que 110 (2,6%) tenían factores de riesgo. Un 0,8 por ciento de los neonatos sin factores de riesgo y un 3,5 por ciento del total de los incluidos en el programa fueron remitidos a la fase de diagnóstico. 3.987 niños (96,8%) completaron el estudio. La incidencia de hipoacusia permanente fue de 1.2/1000. El valor predictivo positivo en los neonatos sin factores de riesgo fue del 10% y el porcentaje de falsos positivos respecto a la población sometida a screening del 0,72%. Conclusiones: En el primer año de funcionamiento del Programa Cántabro de Detección Precoz de la Hipoacusia Infantil se han cumplido la mayor parte de los objetivos de calidad propuestos (AU)

AIMS: To report the findings in the first year of follow-up of the Cantabrian Program to screen newborn babies for congenital permanent hearing loss. METHODS: The study population consisted of infants born during a year period in Cantabria (Spain). Universal hearing screening by transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE) in 2 stage protocol was performed. Infants with failure scores in these 2 stages and those with risk factors for hearing loss were referred for diagnostic evaluation with auditory brainstem response. Hearing aids were recommended for those infants who had bilateral hearing loss and referrals to infant speech and language rehabilitation. RESULTS: Out of the 4117 eligible babies, 3987 were studied. One hundred and ten (2.6) had risk factors for hearing loss, 3.5% were referred for audiological assessment and 1.2/1000 were diagnosed as having a permanent hearing loss. The false-positive rate was 0.72% after the two-stage screening procedure was performed. Positive predictive value for permanent hearing loss was 10%. CONCLUSIONS: During the first year working with the Cantabrian Screening Program for congenital permanent hearing loss in newborn babies, the most part of the proposed aims have been achieved (AU)