Effectiveness of targeted surveillance to identify moderate to profound permanent childhood hearing impairment in babies with risk factors who pass newborn screening

Abstract

Objective: To examine the effectiveness of targeted surveillance for the identification of moderate–profound PCHI in babies who pass the newborn hearing screen in England and have risk factors. Design: Retrospective analysis. Study sample: 2 307 880 children born 01/04/06–30/09/09 in England. Results: Overall the prevalence for all PCHI in children with risk factors who pass newborn hearing screening is 1.49/1000. The risk factors with the highest prevalence are (1) Syndrome (other than Down's) associated with a hearing loss; (2) NICU with refer in both ears at OAE and pass in both ears at AABR; (3) Craniofacial anomaly; (4) Down's syndrome; (5) Congenital infection. Conclusion: Targeted surveillance for children who pass the screen and have the risk factors 1–5 listed above will be retained within the English NHSP; targeted surveillance for children who pass the screen and have other risk factors is not effective and has been discontinued.

Key Words::

• Newborn hearing screening
• targeted surveillance
• follow up
• risk factors
• permanent childhood hearing impairment
• prevalence
• number needed to test

Note

Acknowledgements

These results were presented at the NHS Conference “Beyond Newborn Hearing Screening” Cernobbio (Lake Como), Italy, June 5–7, 2012.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no declaration of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this paper.

Notes

1. Safer use of intravenous gentamicin for neonates (NHS National Patient Safety Agency, 2010).