Effectiveness of targeted surveillance to identify moderate to profound permanent childhood hearing impairment in babies with risk factors who pass newborn screening

Abstract

Objective: To examine the effectiveness of targeted surveillance for the identification of moderate–profound PCHI in babies who pass the newborn hearing screen in England and have risk factors. Design: Retrospective analysis. Study sample: 2 307 880 children born 01/04/06–30/09/09 in England. Results: Overall the prevalence for all PCHI in children with risk factors who pass newborn hearing screening is 1.49/1000. The risk factors with the highest prevalence are (1) Syndrome (other than Down's) associated with a hearing loss; (2) NICU with refer in both ears at OAE and pass in both ears at AABR; (3) Craniofacial anomaly; (4) Down's syndrome; (5) Congenital infection. Conclusion: Targeted surveillance for children who pass the screen and have the risk factors 1–5 listed above will be retained within the English NHSP; targeted surveillance for children who pass the screen and have other risk factors is not effective and has been discontinued.