Early detection of unilateral connatal hearing loss via newborn hearing screening and the implementation of the SAV-concept 2017 in lower Austria and Burgenland

Abstract

Recent studies showed the benefit or even need of hearing aids or cochlear implants in children with unilateral hearing loss to improve localization abilities and speech intelligibility. Therefore, the Audiology working group of the Austrian ENT society adopted the SAV-concept in 2017 (Screening Abklärung Versorgung von konnatalen Hörstörungen- Konzeptpapier 2017 AG Audiologie) to establish methods for testing, the mode of testing both ears, the desired schedule for the screening process and the subsequent therapy. The screening data were collected via questionnaires sent to all maternity and neonatal wards in different districts by responsible persons of the Austrian ENT society. Data on the implementation of the SAV concept were evaluated retrospectively based on the responses for the regions of Lower Austria and Burgenland. The feedback, the implementation and responsibility for the screening program in respect of method and schedule differs throughout the federal states of Austria as well as in hospitals of state health organizations. Austria in comparison to other European countries is missing acentral documentation and tracking system via agovernmental screening coordination office as the data are not generally transferred to acommon birth register. Therefore, different timetables and organization for the universal new born hearing screening in the federal states as well as in state organizations were found causing adelayed diagnosis and treatment of children with unilateral hearing loss.