scholarly journals What Contribution Did Economic Evidence Make to the Adoption of Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Policies in the United States?

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott Grosse ◽  
Craig Mason ◽  
Marcus Gaffney ◽  
Vickie Thomson ◽  
Karl White

Universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS), when accompanied by timely access to intervention services, can improve language outcomes for children born deaf or hard of hearing (D/HH) and result in economic benefits to society. Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) programs promote UNHS and using information systems support access to follow-up diagnostic and early intervention services so that infants can be screened no later than 1 month of age, with those who do not pass their screen receiving diagnostic evaluation no later than 3 months of age, and those with diagnosed hearing loss receiving intervention services no later than 6 months of age. In this paper, we first document the rapid roll-out of UNHS/EHDI policies and programs at the national and state/territorial levels in the United States between 1997 and 2005. We then review cost analyses and economic arguments that were made in advancing those policies in the United States. Finally, we examine evidence on language and educational outcomes that pertain to the economic benefits of UNHS/EHDI. In conclusion, although formal cost-effectiveness analyses do not appear to have played a decisive role, informal economic assessments of costs and benefits appear to have contributed to the adoption of UNHS policies in the United States.

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 94 (6) ◽  
pp. 957-957
Author(s):  

We believe that universal newborn hearing screening is a necessity. Data indicate that the High Risk Register currently used in many hospitals and recommended by Bess and Paradise only identifies about 50% of congenital hearing impairments. Causing further consternation is the fact that the average age of identification of hearing impairment in the United States remains at 3 years of age. We know that 1/1000 children are born deaf and about 7/1000 have bilateral hearing impairments in the mild to severe range.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 126 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. S3-S6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shirley A. Russ ◽  
Karl White ◽  
Denise Dougherty ◽  
Irene Forsman

1995 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karl R. White ◽  
Thomas R. Behrens ◽  
Bonnie Strickland

Although the importance of identifying significant hearing loss at an early age has long been recognized, it is generally acknowledged that newborn hearing screening programs in the United States have not been very successful. The problem has been that available techniques were impractical, too expensive, or invalid. This article summarizes the data regarding the use of transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE) in a universal newborn hearing screening program and describes various facets of program implementation. It is concluded that available data provide clear evidence that TEOAE can be used to significantly reduce the average age of identification for hearing loss in the U.S.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. e000976
Author(s):  
Ayanda Gina ◽  
Nadja F Bednarczuk ◽  
Asitha Jayawardena ◽  
Peter Rea ◽  
Qadeer Arshad ◽  
...  

Hearing screening for newborn babies is an established protocol in many high-income countries. Implementing such screening has yielded significant socioeconomic advantages at both an individual and societal level. This has yet to permeate low/middle-income countries (LMIC). Here, we illustrate how newborn hearing screening needs to be contextually adapted for effective utilisation and implementation in an LMIC. Specifically, this advocates the use of auditory brainstem testing as the first-line approach. We propose that such adaptation serves to maximise clinical efficacy and community participation at a reduced cost.


Author(s):  
Philippa Horn ◽  
Carlie Driscoll ◽  
Jane Fitzgibbons ◽  
Rachael Beswick

Purpose The current Joint Committee on Infant Hearing guidelines recommend that infants with syndromes or craniofacial abnormalities (CFAs) who pass the universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) undergo audiological assessment by 9 months of age. However, emerging research suggests that children with these risk factors are at increased risk of early hearing loss despite passing UNHS. To establish whether earlier diagnostic audiological assessment is warranted for all infants with a syndrome or CFA, regardless of screening outcome, this study compared audiological outcomes of those who passed UNHS and those who referred. Method A retrospective analysis was performed on infants with a syndrome or CFA born between July 1, 2012, and June 30, 2017 who participated in Queensland, Australia's state-wide UNHS program. Results Permanent childhood hearing loss (PCHL) yield was higher among infants who referred on newborn hearing screening (51.20%) than in those who passed. Nonetheless, 27.47% of infants who passed were subsequently diagnosed with hearing loss (4.45% PCHL, 23.02% transient conductive), but PCHL was generally milder in this cohort. After microtia/atresia, the most common PCHL etiologies were Trisomy 21, other syndromes, and cleft palate. Of the other syndromes, Pierre Robin sequence featured prominently among infants who passed the hearing screen and were subsequently diagnosed with PCHL, whereas there was a broader mix of other syndromes that caused PCHL in infants who referred on screening. Conclusion Children identified with a syndrome or CFA benefit from early diagnostic audiological assessment, regardless of their newborn hearing screening outcome.


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