University of Sussex
Browse
McClelland et al. - 1992 - Reliability and effectiveness of screening for hearing loss in high risk neonates-annotated.pdf (970.35 kB)

Reliability and effectiveness of screening for hearing loss in high risk neonates

Download (970.35 kB)
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-09, 02:27 authored by R J McClelland, D R Watson, V Lawless, H G Houston, D Adams
OBJECTIVE--To establish the reliability and effectiveness of screening for hearing loss by brainstem auditory evoked potential testing in high risk neonates. DESIGN--Seven year investigation of newborn babies admitted to a special care baby unit and monitored through a regional children's audiology unit. SETTING--Special care baby unit and children's audiology department, Belfast. SUBJECTS--405 neonates admitted to the baby unit, during 1 October 1982 to 31 March 1987. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Presence of hearing impairment, type and severity of hearing impairment, mortality. RESULTS--85 children failed the screening test, 62 of whom were followed up. Five children had severe bilateral sensorineural impairment and 12 had conductive impairment requiring surgical intervention. A further 18 had severe neurological disorder detected. The sensitivity of screening was 100% and specificity was 88%. If the procedure was introduced into routine clinical practice the mean age at diagnosis for all children with severe perinatal hearing impairment would be 11 (median 1) months. The mean age at diagnosis with the health visitor screening service was 23 (19) months (difference 10 months, 95% confidence interval 6 to 16 months; p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION--Screening for hearing loss in high risk neonates is highly reliable and cost effective. It also provides valuable neurophysiological information. Routine testing of these infants would result in over half of all children with severe bilateral perinatal sensorineural hearing impairment being identified by 2 months of age. This would make an important contribution to the habilitation of this socially, emotionally, and educationally vulnerable group.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Published version

Journal

British Medical Journal

ISSN

0959-8138

Publisher

BMJ Publishing Group

Volume

304

Page range

806-809

Department affiliated with

  • BSMS Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2016-08-09

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2016-08-09

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2016-08-09

Usage metrics

    University of Sussex (Publications)

    Categories

    No categories selected

    Licence

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC