Newborn high-risk hearing screening by maternal questionnaire

Abstract

State-wide, high-risk hearing screening is made possible in Utah through the use of a questionnaire designed for maternal response during hospitalization. The mothers of those determined high risk are sent a follow-up questionnaire when the infant is 6 to 8 months of age, and a determination is made for audiological testing on the basis of her response. Questionnaires (26352) were received on 50,700 live births, of which 4,591 (17.4%) were categorized high risk. Of the high-risk infants, 181 (3.9%) were determined at risk after follow-up, and 54 (20.8%) of these were found hearing impaired. Questionnaire item analysis is presented. Concerns regarding response validity and low return rate are discussed as is the pilot use of the birth certificate as the initial screening device.