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. 2022 Mar-Apr;98(2):147-154.
doi: 10.1016/j.jped.2021.04.008. Epub 2021 Jun 21.

Does universal newborn hearing screening impact the timing of deafness treatment?

Marina Faistauer  1 , Alice Lang Silva  2 , Daniela de Oliveira Ruiz Dominguez  3 , Renata Bohn  3 , Têmis Maria Félix  4 , Sady Selaimen da Costa  5 , Letícia Petersen Schmidt Rosito  5
Affiliations

Does universal newborn hearing screening impact the timing of deafness treatment?

Marina Faistauer et al. J Pediatr (Rio J). 2022 Mar-Apr.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the impact of the Universal Neonatal Hearing Screening (UNHS) on the age at diagnosis, beginning of treatment, and first cochlear implant surgery.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study with children up to 12 years old with bilateral hearing loss were divided into two groups: patients who underwent UNHS and the ones who didn't. The groups were compared according to their age at the beginning of the evaluation at a specialized center, at the beginning of the intervention, and, for the ones who had indication, at the cochlear implant surgery. The group who underwent UNHS was divided between the ones who passed the screening test and the ones who didn't. They were compared according to their ages at the same moments as the first two groups.

Results: 135 patients were included. The median age at the first appointment in a specialized center was 1.42 (0.50 and 2.50) years, at the beginning of treatment 2.00 (1.00 and 3.52) years, and the cochlear implant surgery 2.83 (1.83 and 4.66) years. Children who underwent UNHS were younger than those who didn't, at the three evaluated moments (p < 0.001). In a subanalysis, children who passed the UNHS but were later diagnosed with hearing loss reached the first appointment with a specialist and started treatment older than those who failed the tests.

Conclusion: Performing UNHS interfered with the timing of deafness diagnosis and treatment. However, children who passed the screening but were later diagnosed with hearing loss were the category with the most important delay.

Keywords: Cochlear implant; Hearing loss; Neonatal hearing screening.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig. 1
Histograms comparing groups 1 and 2 with age (in months) at first consultation at a specialized center, at beginning of treatment, and at first cochlear implant.
Fig 2
Fig. 2
Boxplot comparing children who passed with those who failed at the UNHS (groups a and b) in regard to ages (in months) at first specialist consultation, at beginning of treatment and at first cochlear implant surgery.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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