Analysis of Hearing Screening Test Findings of 11,575 Newborns in Turkey

Abstract

Objectives: Review the newborn hearing screening test data performed at Corlu State Hospital, Turkey, during the last 3 years. Methods: A total of 11575 newborns that were either born in this hospital or referred from other healthcare centers between September 2009 and September 2012 were included. TEOAE (Transient Evoked Otoacoustic Emissions) test and AABR (Automated Auditory Brainstem Response) were used as screening tests. After the newborn failed the initial TEOAE test, the test was repeated after 15 days. If the same result was obtained at the second test, the newborns were referred for ear, nose, and throat (ENT) examination. TEOAE and AABR screening tests were performed as the third stage evaluation. Results: Out of 11575 newborns, 593 (5.12%) had failed the test and were referred for ENT examination and further evaluation. Out of these 593 neonates, 474 (79.93%) passed the second step test at the referral center. 106 (17.87%) did not show up again, so we did not get any information about them. Unfortunately, bilateral and unilateral sensory neural hearing impairment was detected in 12 and 3 babies, respectively. Seven of these babies had risk factors such as family history of hearing loss and consanguineous marriages. Conclusions: Newborn hearing screening and early diagnosis are an problems in our field. The final hearing impairment ratio of our study was parallel to general statistics, but our false positive ratio seemed to be higher than that of other centers. It is important to do all tests at the same center concomitantly in order to decrease the false negative ratio.